HUGH   GWYETH 

A    ROUNDHEAD    CAVALIER 


OX  GJUL4F.  LttKARY.  LO0  ANGIL» 


HUGH  GWYETH 


A     ROUNDHEAD     CAVALIER 


BY 

BEULAH   MARIE  DIX 


Wefo 
THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY 

LONDON:   MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  LTO. 
1913 

All  right*  reitrved 


COPYRIGHT,  1899, 
BY  THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY. 

Set  up  and  electrotyped  March,  1899.      Reprinted  May, 
July,  1899  ;  January,  1900  ;  October,  1908  ;  January,  1913. 


XortoootJ 

J.  8.  Cuihing  *  Co.  -  Berwick  IE  Smith 
Norwood  Man.  U.  S.  A. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGB 

I.  Tidings  out  of  the  North I 

II.  How  One  set  out  to  seek  his  Fortune   .        .        .16 

III.  The  Road  to  Nottingham 34 

IV.  To  Horse  and  Away 49 

V.  In  and  Out  of  the  "Golden  Ram"         ...  66 

VI.  The  End  of  the  Journey 81 

VII.  How  the  World  dealt  by  a  Gentleman  ...  95 

VIII.  The  Interposition  of  John  Ridydale        .        .        .  113 

IX.  The  Way  to  War 132 

X.  In  the  Trail  of  the  Battle 152 

XI.  Comrades  in  Arms 171 

XII.  For  the  Honor  of  the  Gwyeths       ....  190 

XIII.  In  the  Fields  toward  Osney  Abbey         .        .        .  208 

XIV.  Under  the  King's  Displeasure          ....  224 
XV.  The  Life  of  Edmund  Burley 242 

XVI.  Roundheads  and  Cavaliers 258 

XVII.  The  Stranger  by  the  Way 274 

XVIII.  The  Call  out  of  Kingsford 290 

XIX.  The  Riding  of  Arrow  Water 307 

XX.  Beneath  the  Roof  of  Everscombe   ....  324 

XXI.  The  Fatherhood  of  Alan  Gwyeth    .        .        .        .340 

XXII.  After  the  Victory '       .  358 

v 

2129260 


HUGH    GWYETH 
A  ROUNDHEAD  CAVALIER 

CHAPTER   I 

TIDINGS    OUT    OF   THE    NORTH 

UP  in  the  tops  of  the  tall  elms  that  overshad- 
owed the  east  wing  of  Everscombe  manor  house 
the  ancient  rooks  were  gravely  wrangling.  A 
faint  morning  breeze  swept  the  green  branches 
and,  as  the  leaves  stirred,  the  warm  September 
sunlight  smiting  through  fell  in  flakes  of  yellow 
on  the  dark  flagstones  of  the  terrace  below.  For 
a  moment  Hugh  Gwyeth  ceased  to  toss  up  and 
catch  the  ball  in  his  hand,  while  he  stood  to  count 
the  yellow  spots  that  shifted  on  the  walk.  Eight, 
nine,  —  but  other  thoughts  so  filled  his  head  that 
there  he  lost  count  and  once  more  took  up  his 
listless  tramp. 

Off  to  his  left,  where  beyond  the  elms  the  lawn 
sloped  down  to  the  park,  he  could  hear  the  calls 
of  the  boys  at  play,  —  his  Oldesworth  cousins  and 
Aunt  Rachel  Millington's  sons.  The  Millingtons 
had  come  to  Everscombe  a  week  before  out  of 
Worcestershire,  where  the  king's  men  were  up  in 
arms  and  had  plundered  their  house.  Yet  the 
young  Millingtons  were  playing  at  ball  with  the 


2  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Oldesworth  lads  as  if  it  were  only  a  holiday. 
"  Children !  "  Hugh  muttered  contemptuously 
and,  conscious  of  his  own  newly  completed  six- 
teen years,  threw  an  increased  dignity  into  his 
step.  He  was  a  wiry  lad,  of  a  slender,  youthful 
figure,  but  for  all  that  he  carried  himself  well 
and  with  little  awkwardness.  Neither  was  he  ill- 
looking  ;  though  there  was  a  reddish  tinge  to  his 
close-cut  hair  it  changed  to  gold  when  he  came 
into  the  sunlight,  and  at  all  times  there  was 
in  his  blue  eyes  a  steady,  frank  look  that  made 
those  who  liked  him  forget  the  freckles  across 
the  bridge  of  his  nose  and  cheek  bones,  and  the 
almost  aggressive  squareness  of  his  chin. 

Mouth  and  chin  were  even  sullen  now,  as  Hugh 
lingered  a  moment  to  glance  up  at  the  small  dia- 
mond panes  of  the  window  of  the  east  parlor. 
Within,  Hugh's  grandfather,  Gilbert  Oldesworth, 
the  master  of  Everscombe,  his  sons,  Nathaniel 
and  Thomas,  his  daughter's  husband,  David  Mil- 
lington,  and  Roger  Ingram,  the  lieutenant  in 
Thomas  Oldesworth's  troop  of  horse,  were  con- 
ferring with  men  from  Warwick  on  the  raising 
of  forces,  the  getting  of  arms,  and  all  the  means 
for  defending  that  part  of  the  county ;  and  Pere- 
grine, the  eldest  of  the  Oldesworth  lads,  was 
allowed  to  be  of  their  counsels.  Hugh  turned 
away  sharply  and  resumed  his  dreary  tramp  up 
and  down  the  flagged  terrace.  "  If  I  had  been 
Uncle  Nathaniel's  son,  they  would  have  suffered 
me  to  be  present  as  well  as  Peregrine,"  he  mut- 
tered, pausing  to  dig  the  toe  of  his  shoe  into  a 
crack  between  the  flagstones.  "  'Tis  not  just. 
I  am  near  a  man,  and  they  might  treat  me  • — " 


I  TIDINGS  OUT  OF  THE   NORTH  3 

He  gave  the  ball  an  extra  high  toss  and  paced  on 
slowly. 

But,  call  as  he  would  upon  his  injured  dignity, 
he  could  not  refrain  from  facing  about  at  the  end 
of  the  walk  and  retracing  his  steps  till  he  was 
loitering  once  more  beneath  the  window  of  the 
east  parlor.  He  was  not  listening,  he  told  him- 
self, nor  was  he  spying ;  there  was  no  harm  in 
walking  on  the  east  terrace  of  a  morning,  nor  in 
lingering  there  to  play  at  ball.  So  he  stood  slip- 
ping the  ball  from  hand  to  hand,  but  his  eyes 
were  fixed  on  the  little  panes  of  the  window 
above  and  his  thoughts  were  busy  on  what  was 
happening  within.  Would  the  people  of  the 
hamlets  round  about  Everscombe,  the  farmers 
and  ploughboys,  who  of  a  Sunday  sat  stolidly  in 
the  pews  of  the  village  church  at  Kingsford, 
would  they  truly  resist  their  sovereign  ?  The 
Oldesworths  would  head  them,  without  doubt, 
but  how  many  others  scattered  through  the 
county  and  all  through  wide  England  were  of 
the  like  mind  ?  And  what  would  come  of  it  ? 
Would  there  be  war  in  the  land,  such  wars 
as  Hugh  had  read  the  Greeks  and  Romans  had 
waged,  such  as  the  great  German  wars  in  which 
his  own  father  had  borne  a  part  ?  And  if  there 
was  a  war  and  brave  deeds  to  do  and  fame  to  win, 
would  his  grandfather  and  his  uncles  let  him  come 
and  fight  too,  or  would  they  still  shut  him  out  with 
the  little  boys,  as  they  had  shut  him  out  to-day? 

So  he  was  thinking,  when  of  a  sudden  the  win- 
dow at  which  he  had  been  staring  swung  open, 
and  Nathaniel  Oldesworth,  a  mild-featured  man 
of  middle  age,  looked  out  upon  him.  Hugh 


4  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

flushed  suddenly  and  kept  his  eyes  on  the  ball 
he  was  still  shifting  from  hand  to  hand.  "  You 
here,  Hugh?"  his  uncle's  voice  reached  him. 
"  Take  yourself  off  to  your  play." 

"  Ay,  sir,"  Hugh  answered,  and  sauntered  away 
down  the  walk.  He  kept  his  chin  up  and  his 
mouth  was  sulky,  but  in  his  boy's  heart  every 
fibre  of  awakening  manhood  was  quivering  at 
this  last  insult.  Go  play !  when  every  moment 
was  big  with  events,  when  war  was  bursting  on 
the  land,  and  there  was  work  for  every  man  to 
do,  he  was  bidden  to  content  himself  with  a  ball ! 

He  went  slowly  down  the  steps  at  the  south 
end  of  the  terrace  and  bearing  off  from  the 
stables  struck  through  the  long  grass  toward 
the  orchard.  He  walked  with  eyes  on  the  ground, 
too  deeply  buried  in  his  own  resentful  thoughts 
to  heed  whither  he  was  going,  but  he  realized 
when  he  entered  the  orchard,  for  the  sunlight 
that  had  been  all  about  him  since  he  quitted  the 
terrace  went  out ;  he  saw  the  earth  was  no  longer 
grassy  but  bald  and  brown,  and  he  trod  on  a  hard 
green  apple  that  rolled  under  his  foot. 

A  second  small  apple  suddenly  plumped  to  the 
ground  before  him,  and  a  girl's  voice  called, 
"  Hugh,  Hugh." 

The  boy  looked  up.  Just  above  his  head, 
through  the  branches  of  the  great  apple  tree,  he 
saw  the  face  of  Lois  Campion,  the  orphan  niece 
of  Nathaniel  Oldesworth's  wife.  "  Are  you  hunt- 
ing for  snails  ?  "  she  asked,  while  her  dark  eyes 
laughed.  "  Prithee,  give  over  now,  like  a  good  lad, 
and  help  me  hence.  I  have  sat  here  half  the 
morning  for  lack  of  an  arm  to  aid  me." 


I  TIDINGS  OUT  OF  THE   NORTH  5 

She  had  slipped  down  the  branches  to  the  fork 
of  the  tree  so  that  she  could  rest  her  hands  on 
Hugh's  shoulders,  and  as  they  came  thus  face  to 
face  her  tone  changed:  "Why,  Hugh,  what  has 
gone  wrong  ? " 

"  Nothing,"  he  answered  shortly,  swinging  her 
down  to  the  ground. 

"  You  look  as  though  you  had  eaten  a  very 
sour  apple,"  said  Lois.  "  Try  these.  There  are 
sweet  tastes  in  them,  if  you  chew  long  enough." 
She  had  seated  herself  at  the  foot  of  the  tree 
with  her  head  resting  against  the  gnarled  gray 
trunk. 

"  It's  not  apples  I  want,"  Hugh  replied  gruffly, 
and  then  the  troubled  look  in  the  girl's  eyes  made 
him  sit  down  beside  her  with  a  thought  of  say- 
ing something  to  make  amends  for  his  surliness ; 
only  words  did  not  come  easily,  for  his  mind 
could  run  on  nothing  but  his  own  discontent. 

"  I  think  I  know,"  Lois  spoke  gently  and  put 
her  hand  on  his  arm.  "  'Tis  because  of  Cousin 
Peregrine." 

Hugh  shook  off  her  hand  and  dropped  down 
full  length  on  the  ground  with  his  forehead  press- 
ing upon  his  arms ;  he  felt  it  would  be  the  crown- 
ing humiliation  of  the  morning  if  the  girl  should 
see  the  look  on  his  face  at  the  mere  mention  of 
his  trouble. 

For  a  time  there  was  silence,  except  for  the 
thud  of  a  falling  apple  and  the  soft  rustle  of 
leaves  in  the  light  wind ;  it  was  one  of  Lois's 
best  comrade  qualities,  Hugh  realized  vaguely 
now,  that  she  knew  when  to  hold  her  peace.  It 
was  he  himself  that  renewed  the  conversation, 


6  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

when  he  felt  assured  that  he  had  himself  too  well 
in  hand  to  let  any  childish  breaking  be  audible  in 
his  voice :  "  I  wish  my  father  had  lived." 

"  I  wish  my  parents  had,  too,"  Lois  answered 
quietly. 

"  I  did  not  wish  it,  when  I  spoke,  because  I 
loved  them,  I  fear,"  Hugh  went  on,  digging  up 
the  scant  blades  of  grass  about  him  with  one 
hand ;  "  I  do  love  them,  but  I  did  not  think  of  it 
so,  then.  But  I  thought  how,  when  a  lad  hath  a 
father  alive,  things  are  made  easy  for  him,  —  no, 
not  easy ;  I  do  not  mean  skulking  at  home,  —  but 
he  is  helped  to  do  a  man's  part.  Now  there  was 
a  good  friend  of  mine,  there  at  Warwick  school, 
Frank  Pleydall ;  I've  spoke  of  him  to  you.  I  was 
home  with  him  once  for  the  holidays,  to  a  great 
house  in  Worcestershire,  where  his  father,  Sir 
William  Pleydall,  lives.  And  Frank  had  his  own 
horses  and  dogs,  and  the  servants  did  his  bidding, 
and  —  and  his  father  is  very  fond  of  him."  Hugh 
paused  a  moment,  then  gave  words  to  the  griev- 
ance nearest  his  heart :  "  And  Peregrine,  now, 
because  he  is  Uncle  Nathaniel's  son,  he  is  to 
have  a  cornetcy  in  Uncle  Thomas's  troop,  and  he 
will  have  a  new  horse,  —  I  do  not  begrudge  it  to 
Peregrine,  but  they  might  try  me  and  see  what  I 
can  do." 

"  But,  Hugh,"  Lois  ventured,  "  you  are  younger 
than  Peregrine." 

"  Only  two  years  and  a  half,"  Hugh  raised  him- 
self on  one  elbow,  "  and  do  but  feel  the  thick  of 
my  right  arm  there.  And  at  Warwick  school 
when  they  taught  us  sword-play  I  learnt  enough 
to  worst  Master  Peregrine,  I  am  sure.  And  I 


I  TIDINGS  OUT  OF  THE  NORTH  7 

can  stick  to  my  saddle  as  well  as  he,  though  I 
never  have  anything  to  ride  but  a  plough  horse. 
And  I  have  not  even  that  now,"  he  went  on,  with 
an  effort  at  a  laugh,  "  since  all  have  been  taken 
to  mount  Uncle  Thomas's  troop.  But  Peregrine 
will  have  a  horse  and  a  sword  of  his  own  and  go 
to  the  wars.  Do  you  understand  what  'tis  I  mean, 
Lois  ? " 

"  Yes,"  Lois  replied  with  a  downward  look  and 
a  quiver  of  the  mouth.  "  You  will  think  'tis  girl's 
folly  in  me,  but  I  have  felt  what  you  mean  when 
I  have  seen  Martha  and  Anne  have  new  gowns, 
and  I  must  wear  my  old  frock  still." 

There  was  another  long  silence,  broken  this 
time  by  Lois.  "  Hugh,"  she  half  whispered,  "  I 
believe  we  are  very  wicked  and  ungrateful  to  our 
kinsfolk." 

"  I  do  not  believe  so,"  the  boy  answered  dog- 
gedly; "  they  have  given  us  nothing  but  food  and 
clothes,  and  one  craves  other  things  besides." 

Lois  nodded  without  speaking,  then  fetched  a 
breath  like  a  sob.  "  Lois !  "  Hugh  cried  in  hon- 
est alarm;  he  had  never  seen  her  thus  before, 
"  don't  cry.  I  am  ashamed  I  bore  myself  so  un- 
manly to  hurt  you.  Don't  cry."  He  took  her 
hand  in  his,  and  tried  to  think  of  something  com- 
forting to  say. 

Lois  bit  her  lips  and  made  not  another  sound 
till  she  could  answer  with  only  a  slight  tremble : 
"  What  you  spoke  of,  made  me  feel  lonely." 

"  I  am  sorry  I  spoke  so,"  Hugh  said  contritely, 
still  holding  her  hand.  "  Shall  we  go  look  for 
apples  now  ? " 

The  girl  shook  her  head :  "  Prithee,  do  not  put 


8  HUGH  GWYETH       •  CH. 

me  off,  Hugh,  and  do  not  reproach  yourself;  I  am 
not  sorry  that  you  spoke  so.  You  are  the  only 
one  to  whom  I  can  talk  of  such  things,  here  at 
Everscombe." 

"  And  you  are  the  only  one  I  have  been  able  to 
talk  to  of  anything  that  touches  me  nearly,  these 
two  years  since  my  mother  died.  —  Do  you  know, 
Lois,  I  sometimes  think  you  look  like  her.  She 
had  brown  hair  like  yours,  for  she  was  a  true 
Oldesworth  and  dark.  Now  I  am  a  Gwyeth,  and 
so  I  come  rightly  by  my  red  hair." 

"  You  shall  not  slander  it  so,"  Lois  interrupted. 

"  Aunt  Delia  calls  it  red.  I  care  not  for  the 
color,  but  I'd  like  to  let  it  grow."  Hugh  ran  his 
fingers  through  his  cropped  hair. 

"  Would  you  turn  Cavalier  ? "  Lois  asked  half 
seriously. 

"  Most  gentlemen  wear  their  hair  long ;  even 
my  grandfather  and  Uncle  Nathaniel,  for  all  they 
hold  to  Parliament." 

"  Master  Thomas  Oldesworth  has  cut  his  close ; 
he  says  all  soldiers  do  so  in  Germany." 

"  My  father  did  not,"  Hugh  answered  quickly. 
"And  he  had  more  experience  in  the  German 
wars  than  ever  Uncle  Tom  will  have." 

"  Tell  me  about  him  again,  Hugh,  if  you  will," 
Lois  begged. 

The  boy  slipped  down  till  he  rested  on  his 
elbow  once  more.  "  There  is  not  much  I  can 
tell,"  he  began,  but  his  face  was  eager  with  inter- 
est in  the  old  story.  "  I  remember  little  of  those 
times,  but  my  mother  was  ever  telling  me  of  him. 
His  name  was  Alan  Gwyeth ;  'tis  a  Welsh  name, 
and  he  had  Welsh  blood  in  him.  They  put  him 


1  TIDINGS  OUT  OF  THE  NORTH  9 

to  school,  but  he  ran  away  to  follow  the  wars  in 
the  Low  Countries.  Later  he  was  here  in  War- 
wickshire to  raise  men  who'd  adventure  for  the 
German  wars,  and  he  met  my  mother,  and  they 
loved  each  other,  so  they  married.  My  grand- 
father and  Uncle  Nathaniel  did  not  like  my 
father,  so  he  left  the  kingdom  straightway,  and 
she  went  with  him  on  his  campaigns  in  Germany. 
I  was  born  there ;  I  think  I  can  remember  it, 
just  a  bit.  A  porcelain  stove  with  tiles,  and  the 
story  of  Moses  upon  them ;  and  a  woman  with 
flaxen  hair  who  took  care  of  me ;  and  my  father, 
I  am  sure  I  remember  him,  a  very  tall  man  with 
reddish  hair  and  blue  eyes,  who  carried  me  on  his 
shoulder."  Hugh's  look  strayed  beyond  the  girl 
and  he  was  silent  a  time.  "  Then  it  all  ended 
and  we  came  home  to  England.  I  remember  the 
ship  and  I  was  sick;  and  then  the  great  coach 
we  rode  in  from  Bristol ;  and  how  big  Evers- 
combe  looked  and  lonesome,  and  my  mother 
cried." 

"And — and  your  father?  "  Lois  asked  timidly. 

"  He  died,"  Hugh  answered  softly.  "  My  mother 
never  told  me  how,  but  it  must  have  been  in 
battle,  for  he  was  a  very  brave  soldier,  she  said. 
And  he  was  the  tenderest  and  kindest  man  that 
ever  lived,  and  far  too  good  for  her,  she  said,  but 
I  do  not  believe  that.  And  just  before  she  died 
she  told  me  I  must  try  always  to  be  like  him,  a 
true-hearted  gentleman  and  a  gallant  soldier.  —  I 
am  glad  I  look  like  him,  and  then,  sometimes," 
Hugh's  tone  grew  more  dubious,  "  but  usually  'tis 
when  I  have  done  wrong,  Aunt  Delia  says  I  am 
my  father  over  again." 


xo  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

"Aunt  Delia  has  a  sharp  tongue,"  said  Lois 
with  a  sigh. 

"  I  know  it  well,"  Hugh  answered  ruefully. 

"  But  still,  she  has  a  kind  heart,"  the  girl  was 
amending  charitably,  when  from  across  the  or- 
chard came  a  shrill  call  of  "  Hugh,"  which  ended 
in  a  high-pitched  howl. 

Lois  rose  and  peering  under  her  hand  gazed  out 
into  the  sunlight  of  the  level  grass  beyond  the 
apple  trees.  "  'Tis  Sam  Oldesworth,"  she  said,  and 
as  she  spoke  a  boy  of  thirteen  or  fourteen  years 
broke  headlong  into  the  shade  of  the  orchard. 

"  Where  have  you  been,  Hugh  ? "  he  panted. 
"Have  you  my  ball  safe?  I've  looked  every- 
where for  you." 

"  For  the  ball  ?    There  'tis,"  Hugh  replied. 

"  Nay,  not  for  that.  There's  something  up  at 
the  house  for  you." 

"  What  is  it  ? "  Hugh  came  to  his  feet  at  a 
jump,  while  his  thoughts  sped  bewilderingly  to 
swords,  horses,  and  commissions. 

"  Guess,"  replied  Sam. 

Hugh  turned  his  back  and  walked  away  toward 
the  manor  house  at  a  dignified  pace;  it  would 
not  do  to  let  a  young  sprig  like  Sam  know  his 
curiosity  and  eagerness.  But  Lois,  having  no 
such  scruples,  teased  her  cousin  with  questions 
till  the  boy,  bubbling  over  with  the  importance  of 
the  news,  admitted :  "  Well,  the  post  from  the 
north  has  come,  and  there  is  something  for  Hugh 
in  the  east  parlor." 

"A  letter?"  Hugh  queried  with  momentary 
disappointment  in  his  tone.  But  though  a  letter 
was  not  as  good  as  a  commission  it  was  some- 


I  TIDINGS  OUT  OF  THE   NORTH  n 

thing  he  had  never  had  before  in  his  life,  so  he 
quickened  his  step  and  with  high  expectations 
entered  the  east  wing  and  passed  through  the 
small  hall  to  the  parlor. 

The  door  stood  open,  and  opposite  the  sunlight 
from  the  window,  still  flung  wide,  lay  in  a  clear 
rectangle  upon  the  dark  floor.  About  the  heavy 
oak  table  in  the  centre  of  the  room,  in  speech 
of  the  news  brought  from  the  north  by  the 
freshly  arrived  letters,  sat  or  stood  in  knots  of 
two  or  three  the  grave-faced  men  of  the  con- 
ference. At  the  head  of  the  table,  where  the 
sunlight  fell  upon  his  long  white  hair,  sat  Master 
Gilbert  Oldesworth,  an  erect  man  with  keen  eyes 
and  alert  gestures,  in  spite  of  his  seventy  years. 
Hugh  also  caught  sight  of  Peregrine  and  noted, 
with  a  certain  satisfaction,  that  this  fortunate 
cousin  sat  at  the  foot  of  the  table  and  seemed  to 
have  small  share  in  the  business  in  hand.  But 
next  moment  he  had  enough  to  do  to  give  heed 
to  his  own  concerns,  for  Nathaniel  Oldesworth 
called  him  by  name  and  he  must  enter  to  receive 
his  letter.  He  felt  his  cheeks  burn  with  the 
consciousness  that  strangers  had  their  eyes  on 
him  and  that  he  must  appear  to  them  a  mere 
dishevelled,  awkward  schoolboy ;  he  grew  angry 
with  himself  for  his  folly,  and  his  face  burned 
even  more.  Scarcely  daring  to  raise  his  eyes,  he 
caught  up  the  letter  his  uncle  held  out  to  him 
and  slipped  back  again  into  the  hall. 

Sam  pounced  upon  him  at  once.  "  What  is 
it  ? "  he  demanded,  and  Lois's  eyes  asked  the  same 
question. 

Hugh  forgot  the  hot  embarrassment  and  mis- 


is  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

ery  of  a  moment  before,  as  he  turned  the  letter 
in  his  hand.  "  I  don't  know  the  writing,"  he  said, 
prolonging  the  pleasure  while  he  examined  the 
superscription ;  then  he  tore  open  the  paper,  and 
the  first  sight  of  the  sheet  of  big  sprawling  black 
letters  was  enough.  "  Ah,  but  I  do  know !  "  he 
cried.  "  Tis  from  Frank  Pleydall,  Lois." 

"  Your  school  friend  ?  " 

"Yes.  I  have  not  heard  from  him  these  six 
months,  since  he  left  the  school.  Doctor  Masham, 
the  master,  said  the  queen  was  a  Babylonish 
woman,  and  when  Sir  William  heard  of  that  he 
came  to  the  school  in  a  great  rage  and  called 
Doctor  Masham  a  canting  Puritan  and  a  hoary- 
headed  traitor,  —  truly,  the  Doctor  is  but  little 
older  and  not  a  bit  more  white  headed  than  Sir 
William  himself.  And  he  took  Frank  away,  and 
—  I  was  right  sorry  to  lose  him." 

"  But  you  have  found  him  again  now,"  said 
Lois.  "  Come,  Sam."  She  coaxed  the  youngster, 
still  reluctant  and  lingering,  out  upon  the  terrace, 
and  Hugh,  happy  in  being  alone,  set  himself 
down  at  once  on  the  stairway  that  led  from  the 
hall  to  the  upper  story.  It  was  hard  to  find  a 
secluded  place  in  Everscombe  those  days,  what 
with  the  men  from  Thomas  Oldesworth's  troop 
quartered  in  the  old  west  wing,  and  the  Milling- 
tons  and  other  refugee  kinsfolk  in  the  main  part 
of  the  house.  So  in  the  fear  that  a  noisy  cousin 
or  two  might  come  to  interrupt  him,  Hugh  settled 
himself  hastily  and  began  his  letter:  — 

GOOD  HUGH  : 

It  has  come  to  my  remembrance  that  it  is  many  days  since 
you  have  had  news  of  me,  so  at  a  venture  I  send  this  letter  to 


i  TIDINGS  OUT  OF  THE   NORTH  13 

your  grandfather's  house,  though  the  roads  are  so  beset  and 
the  post  so  delayed  it  is  doubtful  if  it  ever  reach  you.  I  am 
here  at  Nottingham  with  my  father.  He  commands  a  notable 
troop  of  horse,  drawn  out  of  our  own  county,  and  many  of  them 
men  bred  on  our  own  lands,  proper  stout  fellows,  that  will  make 
the  rebels  to  skip,  I  promise  you.  My  father  is  colonel,  and  some 
of  my  cousins  and  uncles  and  neighboring  gentlemen  hold  com- 
missions, and  I  think  I  shall  prevail  upon  my  father  to  bestow 
one  on  me,  though  he  maintains  I  be  over-young,  which  is  all 
folly.  The  king's  standard  was  raised  here  week  before  last, 
and  we  all  nigh  split  our  throats  with  cheering.  The  town  is 
full  of  soldiers  and  gentlemen  from  all  over  the  kingdom,  and 
many  from  following  the  wars  abroad,  and  more  coming  every 
day.  I  have  seen  his  Majesty  the  king, — God  bless  him  !  He 
rode  through  the  street  and  he  hath  a  noble  face  and  is  most 
gracious  and  kingly.  I  do  not  see  how  men  can  have  the 
wickedness  to  take  up  arms  against  him.  I  have  also  seen  his 
nephew,  Prince  Rupert,  the  famous  German  soldier,  who  they 
say  shall  have  a  great  command  in  the  war.  My  father  has  had 
speech  with  him  and  he  commended  our  troop  most  graciously. 
It  has  been  the  most  memorable  time  of  all  my  life,  and,  best 
of  all,  I  shall  never  go  back  to  school  now,  but  go  to  the  wars. 
I  would  you  might  be  with  us,  Hugh,  for  it  is  the  only  life  for 
gentlemen  of  spirit.  Heaven  keep  you  well,  and  if  this  reaches 
you,  write  me  in  reply. 

Your  loving  friend  to  serve  you, 

FRANCIS  PLEYDALL. 
NOTTINGHAM,  Sept.  5,  1642. 

I  misremembered  to  tell  you.  Among  the  soldiers  come  from 
Germany  is  a  certain  Alan  Gwyeth,  a  man  of  some  forty  years, 
with  hair  reddish  gold  like  yours.  It  is  an  odd  name  and  I 
thought  perhaps  he  might  be  some  kinsman  of  yours.  We  met 
with  him  the  day  the  standard  was  raised,  and  I  would  have 
questioned  him  myself,  but  my  father  said  I  was  over-forward 
and  I  had  to  hold  my  peace.  Did  your  father  leave  any 
brothers  or  cousins  in  Germany?  This  man  is  a  notable 
soldier  and  has  got  him  a  colonelcy  under  the  Prince. 

F.  P. 

Hugh  sat  staring  at  the  paper  and  saw  the 
black  letters  and  the  words  but  found  no  mean- 


14  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

ing  in  them.  Across  the  dim  hall  he  could  see 
through  the  open  door  the  strip  of  greensward 
that  ran  across  the  front  of  Everscombe,  part  black 
with  the  shadow  of  the  east  wing  and  part  daz- 
zling bright  with  the  noon  sun.  He  fixed  his  gaze 
upon  the  clean  line  where  the  shade  gave  way  to 
vivid  light,  till  the  sunny  greenness  blurred  before 
his  eyes ;  he  felt  the  roughness  of  the  paper,  as  he 
creased  and  recreased  it  with  nervous  fingers,  but 
he  could  not  think ;  he  could  only  feel  that  some- 
thing vast  and  portentous  was  coming  into  his 
life. 

A  noise  of  tramping  feet  and  a  burst  of  voices 
roused  him.  The  conference  ended,  the  men 
came  slowly  from  the  east  parlor,  and  lingered 
speaking  together,  then  scattered,  some  with 
Nathaniel  Oldesworth  into  the  main  part  of  the 
house,  some  with  Thomas  Oldesworth  out  upon 
the  terrace.  Master  Gilbert  Oldesworth  was  not 
among  them,  Hugh  noted,  and  on  a  sudden  im- 
pulse he  half  ran  across  the  hall  and  entered  the 
east  parlor,  closing  the  door  behind  him. 

Master  Oldesworth  looked  up  from  the  paper 
over  which  he  had  been  poring.  "  You  would 
speak  with  me,  Hugh  ? "  he  asked,  with  a  touch 
of  displeasure  in  his  tone. 

"  If  I  may.  'Tis  important,"  Hugh  stammered. 
"  Will  you  look  at  this  letter  ?  No,  not  all,  just 
this  place,  sir." 

Hugh  stood  at  his  grandfather's  side,  griping 
the  edge  of  the  table  so  he  saw  the  blood  leave 
his  fingers.  In  the  elms  outside  the  open  window 
the  rooks  still  scolded,  and  over  in  the  corner  of 
the  room  the  great  clock  ticked  loudly,  but  there 


i  TIDINGS  OUT  OF  THE  NORTH  15 

was  no  other  sound  till  Hugh  had  counted  thrice 
sixty  of  its  noisy  ticks.  Then  the  boy  drew  a 
quick  breath,  and,  dreading  what  he  might  find, 
raised  his  eyes  to  his  grandfather's  face.  But  he 
saw  no  sign  there  for  several  moments,  not  till 
Master  Oldesworth  had  laid  down  Frank  Pley- 
dall's  letter,  and  then  Hugh  perceived  there  was 
something  akin  to  pity  in  the  old  man's  eyes. 

"Well,  Hugh,  and  what  would  you  know?" 
he  asked. 

"That  man,  Alan  Gwyeth,  is  he  —  "  Hugh 
felt  and  knew  what  the  answer  would  be  be- 
fore Master  Oldesworth  spoke  the  words  slowly: 
"  Yes,  Hugh,  'tis  your  father." 


CHAPTER   II 

HOW    ONE    SET    OUT   TO    SEEK    HIS    FORTUNE 

"  You  must  have  known  at  last,  but  I  had  not 
thought  it  would  be  so  soon,"  Master  Oldes- 
worthwent  on.  "  'Twas  folly  ever  to  have  kept  it 
from  you." 

In  a  blind  way  Hugh  had  groped  for  a  chair 
and  sat  down  with  his  elbow  on  the  table  and  his 
forehead  pressing  hard  upon  his  hand.  His  face 
was  toward  the  window  and  he  was -aware  of  the 
brightness  flooding  in  through  it,  but  he  could 
see  clearly  only  his  grandfather's  thin,  clean- 
shaven lips  and  searching  eyes.  "  Tell  me,"  he 
found  voice  to  say  at  last,  "  I  want  to  know  all. 
My  father — he  has  been  alive  all  these  years? 
You  knew  ? " 

Master  Oldesworth  nodded. 

"  You  deceived  me  ?  "  Hugh's  voice  rose  shrill 
and  uncontrollable.  "  You  knew  you  were  deceiv- 
ing me?  You  had  no  right,  'twas  wickedness, 
'twas  —  " 

"  It  was  your  mother's  wish." 

The  burst  of  angry  words  was  choked  in 
Hugh's  throat;  with  a  little  shudder  of  the  shoul- 
ders he  dropped  his  head  upon  his  folded  arms. 
"  Will  you  tell  me  wherefore,  sir  ?  "  he  asked  in 
a  dull  tone. 

16 


ii  HOW  ONE  SET  OUT  TO  SEEK  HIS  FORTUNE    17 

"  Because  of  the  never-dying  folly  of  woman," 
Master  Oldesworth  replied,  with  a  sudden  fierce 
harshness  of  tone  that  made  Hugh  lift  his  head. 
He  felt  that,  if  the  revelation  of  the  letter  had 
not  made  every  other  happening  of  that  day 
commonplace,  he  would  have  been  surprised  at 
the  sudden  lack  of  control  that  made  his  grand- 
father's sallow  cheeks  flush  and  his  thin  lips 
move.  But  in  a  moment  Master  Oldesworth 
was  as  calm  of  demeanor  as  before  and  his  voice 
was  quite  colorless  when  he  resumed :  "  Hear  the 
truth  at  last,  Hugh,  and  you,  too,  will  have  reason 
to  curse  the  folly  of  womankind.  She,  your 
mother,  my  best-beloved  daughter,  was  most 
wilful,  even  from  a  child.  Though  you  have 
none  of  her  look  I  have  noted  in  you  something 
of  her  rash  temper.  Her  own  impulse  and  desire 
must  always  be  her  guides,  and  well  they  guided 
her.  For  there  came  a  swashbuckling  captain 
of  horse  out  of  Germany,  with  a  brisk  tongue 
and  an  insolent  bearing,  for  which  that  mad  girl 
put  all  her  love  on  him,  worthless  hackster 
though  he  was." 

"  'Tis  my  father  whom  you  speak  of  so  ? "  Hugh 
cried,  with  an  involuntary  clinching  of  the  hands. 

"  Your  mother's  work  again  !  "  said  Master 
Oldesworth  with  a  flicker  of  a  smile,  that  was 
half  sad  and  half  contemptuous.  "  She  fled  away 
from  her  father's  house  to  marry  this  swaggering 
rascal;  she  followed  him  into  Germany;  and 
there  she  found  true  all  her  kinsmen  had  told 
her  of  his  worthlessness  and  wickedness.  So 
she  took  her  child  and  gladly  came  back  to  us 
again." 


i8  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

"  She  never  uttered  word  of  this  to  me,"  Hugh 
maintained  doggedly. 

"  I  urged  her  to,"  Master  Oldesworth  contin- 
ued, "but,  with  the  weakness  of  her  sex,  before 
six  months  were  out  she  had  forgot  his  unworthi- 
ness  and  baseness.  She  remembered  only  that 
she  loved  him  and  she  blamed  herself  that  she 
had  left  him ;  indeed,  she  would  have  returned  if 
she  had  been  assured  he  would  receive  her  back. 
But  I  forbade  her  hold  communication  with  him 
while  she  dwelt  beneath  my  roof,  and  he  himself 
did  not  care  to  seek  her  out,  though  she  long 
looked  for  him.  When  he  did  not  come  she  was 
the  more  convinced  the  fault  was  hers,  and,  since 
she  had  robbed  her  son  of  his  father,  as  she 
phrased  it,  she  would  at  least  give  him  a  true  and 
noble  conception  of  that  father  to  cherish.  Per- 
haps she  held  it  compensation  for  the  wrong  she 
thought  she  had  worked  Alan  Gwyeth  that  she 
sketched  him  unto  you  a  paragon  of  all  virtues. 
And  partly  for  that  he  was  dead  to  her,  and 
partly  for  that  she  would  not  have  the  shame  of 
her  flight,  as  she  called  her  most  happy  deliver- 
ance, be  known  to  you,  she  gave  him  out  to  you 
as  dead.  'Twas  ill  done,  but  I  suffered  her  to 
rule  you  as  she  would ;  I  had  ever  a  weak  fond- 
ness for  her." 

With  a  sudden  jarring  noise  Hugh  thrust  back 
his  chair  and  stumbling  to  the  window  stood  so 
Master  Oldesworth  could  not  see  his  face.  His 
poor  mother,  his  poor  mother !  Because  he 
knew  in  his  heart  she  had  done  ill  to  him  with 
her  weak  deceptions  he  loved  her  and  pitied  her 
all  the  more,  and  his  eyes  smarted  with  repressed 


n  HOW  ONE  SET  OUT  TO  SEEK  HIS  FORTUNE    19 

tears  that  he  could  not  see  her  nor  tell  her  that  it 
all  mattered  little,  the  agony  this  disillusionment 
was  costing  him ;  he  knew  she  had  meant  it  kindly 
and  he  thanked  her  for  it. 

He  was  still  staring  out  between  the  elms  at 
the  sloping  lawn,  where,  he  remembered  as  if  it 
had  happened  years  back,  he  had  played  that 
very  morning  like  a  boy,  when  his  grandfather's 
dry  tones  reached  him :  "  This  man  would  seem 
to  have  roistered  through  life  without  thought  of 
her.  Of  late  I  did  not  know  myself  whether  he 
were  dead  or  living,  but  it  seems  he  is  sailing  on 
the  high  waves  of  royal  favor  and  has  found  him- 
self fitting  comradeship  among  the  profligates  and 
traitors  of  King  Charles's  camp." 

Hugh  swept  his  hand  across  his  eyes  and  faced 
about  squarely.  His  father  a  profligate  who  had 
abandoned  his  mother!  Who  dared  say  it  or 
believe  it  ?  His  mother's  face  as  she  had  looked 
before  she  died  came  back  to  him.  A  true-hearted 
gentleman  and  a  gallant  soldier,  like  his  father,  — 
like  his  father. 

"  And  you  never  suspected  anything  of  the 
truth  ere  this  ?  "  Master  Oldesworth  pursued. 

"  Once,  months  back,  Aunt  Delia  told  me  a 
story  somewhat  like  this,"  Hugh's  voice  came  low 
but  so  firm  it  surprised  him,  "but  I  held  it  only 
some  of  her  spitefulness  and  I  did  not  believe  it." 

Master  Oldesworth  looked  up  with  a  curious 
expression.  "  Do  you  believe  it  now  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,"  Hugh  answered  honestly,  then  quickly 
added,  "  I  crave  your  pardon,  sir,  but  I  cannot 
believe  it." 

"  Have  back  this  letter  of  yours,"  Master  Oldes- 


20  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

worth  said,  rising,  and  as  Hugh  came  up  to  him 
he  put  his  hand  on  the  boy's  shoulder.  "  You 
have  a  loyal  heart,  Hugh  Gwyeth,"  he  said  dryly, 
"  and  'tis  no  shame  of  yours  you  have  such  a 
father." 

"  I  am  not  ashamed  of  him,  sir,"  Hugh  replied 
stoutly. 

"  You  are  your  mother  over  again,"  said  the 
old  man,  in  a  tone  that  held  something  of  vexa- 
tion and  something  of  amusement,  yet  more  of 
kindliness  than  he  was  accustomed  to  show  his 
orphan  grandson. 

Hugh  was  in  no  mood  to  note  this,  however, 
but,  delaying  only  to  take  his  precious  letter,  left 
the  east  parlor  at  a  brisk  step  that  verged  upon  a 
run.  Once  in  the  open  air,  where  he  was  freed 
from  the  restraint  of  his  grandfather's  presence, 
he  leaped  down  the  low  terrace  and,  hallooing  at 
the  top  of  his  lungs,  raced  full  speed  across  the 
lawn.  But  when  the  shadow  of  the  tall  oaks  on 
the  border  of  the  park  fell  upon  him  the  noisiness 
of  his  joy  somewhat  abated.  He  rambled  on 
more  slowly  with  a  happy  under-consciousness  of 
the  dusky  green  of  the  old  trees  about  him  and 
the  shimmer  of  the  stray  sunbeams;  he  wondered 
that  the  dull,  familiar  park  seemed  so  joyous  and 
beautiful  a  place. 

Not  till  he  had  crossed  the  grassy  roadway  that 
led  to  the  manor  house,  and  plunged  into  the 
thicker  growth  of  trees,  did  he  come  again  to  the 
power  of  framing  connected  thoughts.  Little 
by  little  he  let  his  pace  slacken,  till  at  length  he 
flung  himself  down  in  the  shade  of  a  beech  tree 
and  pulling  out  Frank's  letter  read  the  last  sen- 


ii  HOW  ONE  SET  OUT  TO  SEEK  HIS  FORTUNE    21 

tences  aloud.  His  father  was  alive,  an  officer  in 
the  king's  army,  at  Nottingham,  only  the  width  of 
two  counties  away.  Hugh  clasped  his  hands 
behind  his  head  and  lying  back  gazed  up  unwink- 
ingly  at  the  cloudless  blue  sky;  in  his  heart 
there  was  no  room  for  any  feeling  save  that  of 
pure  happiness,  of  which  the  bright  day  seemed 
a  mere  reflection.  For  he  neither  remembered 
nor  heeded  the  words  his  grandfather  had  spoken 
of  Alan  Gwyeth  ;  he  only  knew  that  a  few  score 
miles  away  the  tall  man  with  reddish  hair  and 
blue  eyes,  who  used  to  carry  him  upon  his 
shoulder,  was  alive  and  waiting  for  him. 

The  resolve  formed  in  these  hours  of  reflection 
he  told  to  Lois  Campion,  when,  late  in  the  after- 
noon, he  crashed  his  way  out  to  the  edge  of  the 
park  with  the  briskness  of  one  who  has  made  up 
his  mind.  The  girl  was  playing  at  shuttlecock 
with  Martha  Oldesworth,  but  at  sight  of  Hugh 
she  quickly  laid  aside  her  battledoor  and  came  to 
him  where  he  was  lingering  for  her  beneath  the 
oaks.  "  Where  have  you  been  ? "  she  cried. 
"  We  missed  you  at  dinner,  and  Peregrine,  who 
was  honey-tongued  as  ever,  said  you  were  sulk- 
ing. But  I  knew  'twas  some  witchery  in  that 
letter." 

Hugh  laughed  excitedly.  "Witchery?  Ay, 
'twas  that  indeed,  Lois.  Can  you  believe  it  ?  My 
father  is  alive,  at  the  king's  camp ;  and  I  have 
determined  to  go  to  him." 

With  that  he  made  her  sit  down  beside  him  and 
told  her  all,  so  confidently  and  happily  she  dared 
not  venture  more  than  one  objection :  "  But  'tis  a 
long  way  to  Nottingham,  Hugh." 


22  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

"  I  can  walk  it.  Take  no  heed  to  the  way,  Lois, 
but  think  of  the  end." 

"  When  shall  you  go  ?  "  she  asked,  playing  ab- 
sently with  some  acorns  she  had  gathered  in  her 
hand. 

"  To-morrow  night." 

"  So  soon  ?  "  The  acorns  fell  neglected  to  the 
ground. 

"  Nay,  'tis  delaying  over-long.  I  would  set  out 
this  very  night,  but  I  suppose  I  should  take  some 
time  for  preparation." 

"  And  you  must  run  from  home  by  night  ?  "  she 
repeated  sadly. 

"  Like  Dick  Whittington.  I  wonder  if  I  have 
such  good  fortune  as  he." 

"  How  happy  your  father  will  be  to  see  you  !  " 
Lois  continued. 

"  'Twill  be  naught  but  happiness  for  us  all," 
Hugh  ran  on  boisterously.  "  Ah,  must  you  go, 
Lois  ? " 

"  I  must  finish  my  game  with  Martha,"  the  girl 
answered  steadily.  Hugh  saw,  however,  that  she 
did  not  go  near  Martha  but  walked  away  to  the 
house,  and  he  was  vexed  because  she  did  not  care 
enough  about  his  departure  to  stay  to  talk  with 
him. 

It  was  well  for  Hugh  the  day  was  nearly  spent, 
if  his  plans  were  to  be  kept  secret ;  for  he  longed 
to  speak  of  them,  and,  now  Lois  would  not  listen, 
there  was  no  one  in  whom  he  could  safely  confide. 
Moreover,  Sam  Oldesworth  was  so  curious  about 
the  letter  that  it  was  a  perilously  great  tempta- 
tion to  hint  to  him  just  a  little,  especially  when 
the  two  boys  were  preparing  for  bed.  Since  the 


Millingtons  had  come  to  Everscombe  Sam  and 
Hugh  had  been  obliged  to  sleep  together,  an  ar- 
rangement never  acceptable  to  the  older  boy  and 
this  night  even  dangerous.  Fortunately  he  real- 
ized his  weakness  enough  to  reply  shortly  to  all 
his  companion's  eager  questions,  however  gladly 
he  would  have  told  something  of  his  secret,  till 
Sam  at  last  grumbled  himself  to  sleep.  But  Hugh 
turned  on  his  side  and  for  hours  lay  staring  into 
the  dark  of  the  chamber,  planning  for  his  journey 
and  sometimes  wondering  where  he  would  be  in 
the  blackness  of  the  next  night. 

In  the  morning,  when  he  first  woke  and  lay 
gazing  at  the  familiar  room,  it  gave  him  a  feeling 
of  surprisingly  keen  regret  to  tell  himself  that  this 
was  his  last  day  at  Everscombe.  Perhaps  it  was 
the  outward  aspect  of  the  day  that  made  him  feel 
so  depressed,  for  a  slow,  drizzling  rain  was  falling 
and  the  sky  was  thick  with  gray  clouds. 

All  the  morning  Hugh  avoided  his  cousins,  and 
even  Lois,  against  whom  the  resentment  of  the 
previous  afternoon  still  lasted,  and  prowled  rest- 
lessly about  the  house  to  pay  farewell  visits  to  the 
rooms  that  he  had  known.  Thus  his  Aunt  Delia 
found  him,  loitering  upon  the  garret  stairs,  and 
sharply  bade  him  go  about  his  business,  so  Hugh, 
his  sensitive  dignity  a-quiver,  drew  back  to  his 
chamber,  where  he  pretended  to  choose  equip- 
ments for  his  journey.  In  reality  it  was  a  simple 
matter;  he  would  wear  his  stuff  jacket  and 
breeches,  —  he  owned  no  other  suit  of  clothes,  — 
and  his  one  pair  of  stout  shoes.  He  did  not 
trouble  himself  about  clean  linen,  but  he  took 
pains  to  see  that  his  pistol  was  in  order;  it  was 


24  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

an  old  one  that  had  belonged  to  Peregrine,  before 
he  received  a  case  of  new  ones  in  keeping  with 
his  position  as  cornet  in  the  Parliament's  army. 
Peregrine's  old  riding  boots  had  also  fallen  to 
Hugh's  share;  they  were  a  trifle  too  big  and  were 
ill  patched,  but  there  was  something  trooper-like 
about  them  that  made  him  sorry  when  he  realized 
that  he  could  not  take  them  with  him.  He  re- 
luctantly dropped  them  back  into  the  wardrobe, 
and  then,  the  sight  of  them  reminding  him  he  had 
yet  to  bid  farewell  to  his  friends  the  horses,  he 
spattered  out  through  the  rain  to  the  stables. 

The  stones  of  the  stable  yard  were  slippery 
and  wet;  at  the  trough  in  the  centre  three  horses, 
with  their  coats  steaming,  were  drinking,  while 
the  man  at  their  heads,  one  of  Tom  Oldesworth's 
newly  levied  troopers,  joked  noisily  with  a  little 
knot  of  his  comrades.  Inside  the  big  dark  stable 
a  great  kicking  and  stamping  of  horses  was  rum- 
blingly  audible  above  the  loud  talk  of  the  men  at 
work.  Hugh  loitered  into  the  confusion  and, 
making  his  way  through  the  main  building, 
entered  the  quieter  wing,  where  were  the  old 
family  horses  with  whom  he  had  acquaintance. 
But  when  he  stepped  through  the  connecting  door 
he  perceived  that  even  here  others  were  before 
him;  standing  with  hands  behind  him  and  legs 
somewhat  wide,  as  befitted  a  veteran  horse-soldier, 
was  Tom  Oldesworth,  a  close-shaven,  firm-mouthed 
man  of  thirty,  in  talk  with  his  lieutenant,  Roger 
Ingram.  Near  by  stood  Peregrine  Oldesworth,  a 
heavy-featured,  dark  lad,  who  was  bearing  his 
part  in  the  conversation  quite  like  a  man.  What- 
ever the  matter  was,  they  seemed  too  merry  over 


ii  HOW  ONE  SET  OUT  TO  SEEK  HIS  FORTUNE     25 

it  for  any  business  of  the  troop,  so  Hugh  thought 
it  no  harm  to  saunter  over  to  them. 

"  Looking  for  a  commission,  eh,  Hugh  ?  "  Tom 
Oldesworth  broke  off  his  talk  to  ask  jestingly. 

"  Not  under  you,  sir,"  Hugh  retorted,  rather 
sharply. 

Oldesworth  laughed  and  patted  his  head. 
"  Never  mind,  my  Roundhead,"  he  said  cheer- 
fully, as  Hugh  ducked  out  of  his  reach,  "your 
turn'll  come  soon.  No  doubt  Peregrine  will  get 
a  ball  through  his  brains  ere  the  winter  be  over, 
and  then  I  promise  you  his  place."  . 

"  Then  you  think  the  war  will  last  till  winter  ?  " 
questioned  Ingram. 

"  Till  winter  ?  I  tell  you,  Roger,  we're  happy 
if  we  have  a  satisfactory  peace  in  the  land  two  full 
years  hence." 

"  You're  out  there,  Captain.  These  gallants  of 
the  king's  will  stand  to  fight  here  no  better  than 
they  stood  against  the  Scots.  They'll  be  beat  to 
cover  ere  snow  fall  —  " 

"  Pshaw ! "  replied  Oldesworth,  convincingly. 
"  Look  you  here,  Roger."  Thereupon  the  two 
fell  to  discussing  the  king's  resources  and  those 
of  Parliament,  and  comparing  the  merits  of  com- 
manders, and  quoting  the  opinions  of  leaders,  till 
Hugh  tired  of  it  all  and  strolled  away. 

He  passed  slowly  down  the  line  of  stalls,  ca- 
ressing the  soft  muzzles  of  the  kindly  horses,  and 
lingered  a  time  to  admire  the  big  black  charger 
that  belonged  to  Captain  Oldesworth.  In  the 
next  stall  stood  a  clean-limbed  bay,  which  thrust 
out  its  head  as  if  expecting  notice ;  Hugh  hesi- 
tated, then  began  stroking  the  velvety  nose,  when 


26  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

Peregrine  swaggered  up  to  him  with  a  grand, 
"  Don't  worry  that  horse  of  mine,  Hugh." 

"  I  was  not  worrying  him,"  Hugh  answered 
hotly.  "  But  you  can  be  sure  I'll  never  touch 
him  again."  He  turned  and  walked  away  toward 
the  open  door. 

"  Oh,  you  can  touch  him  now  and  then,"  Pere- 
grine replied,  as  he  followed  after  him  out  into 
the  courtyard,  where  the  rain  had  somewhat 
abated.  "  But  he's  too  brave  a  beast  for  you 
youngsters  to  be  meddling  with  all  the  time. 
You'd  spoil  his  temper."  Then,  as  Hugh  still 
kept  a  sulky  silence,  his  cousin  asked  abruptly, 
"  What's  amiss  with  you  to-day  ? " 

"  Nothing." 

"  You've  not  been  friendly  of  late.  I  believe 
you  are  jealous  that  I  have  a  commission." 

"  I  do  not  want  your  commission,"  Hugh  re- 
plied, and  to  show  he  spoke  the  truth  he  forced  a 
laugh  and  tried  to  say  carelessly,  as  he  might 
have  said  a  month  before,  "  Tell  you  what  I  do 
want,  though :  a  new  flint  for  my  pistol.  Will 
you  not  give  me  one,  Peregrine  ? " 

"  Are  you  going  to  shoot  Cavaliers  ?  "  the  elder 
boy  asked,  as  he  halted  to  fumble  in  his  pockets. 

"  Maybe." 

Peregrine  drew  out  three  bits  of  flint,  turned 
them  in  his  hand,  then  gave  the  least  perfect  to 
Hugh.  "  I  took  it  from  my  new  pistol  this  morn- 
ing," he  explained.  "  'Tis  good  enough  for  any 
service  you'll  need  of  it." 

Hugh  bit  his  lip,  but  with  a  muttered  word  of 
thanks  took  the  flint. 

"  I  was  furbishing  up  my  weapons  this  morn- 


n   HOW  ONE  SET  OUT  TO  SEEK  HIS  FORTUNE    27 

ing,"  Peregrine  went  on.  "  We  go  on  real  service 
next  week ;  we  determined  on  it  yesterday  at  the 
conference." 

"  I  thought  Uncle  Tom  said  the  troop  would 
not  be  in  fit  condition  to  serve  for  a  fortnight." 

"  Not  all  the  troop.  But  Uncle  Tom,  and  I, 
and  Lieutenant  Ingram,  are  to  take  some  thirty 
men  that  are  in  trim  and  go  into  Staffordshire 
to  see  what  can  be  done  among  the  godly  people 
thereabouts." 

"  Good  luck  to  you,  Peregrine,"  Hugh  forced 
himself  to  say,  then  shook  off  his  companion 
and,  passing  from  the  stable  yard,  trudged  away 
through  the  wet  grass,  with  the  old  jealous  pang 
worrying  him  as  savagely  as  ever.  But  soon  he 
told  himself  that  his  father  would  probably  give 
him  a  horse  and  good  weapons  too,  and,  being  a 
colonel  in  the  king's  army,  would  very  likely  let 
him  go  to  the  wars  with  him,  perhaps  even  give 
him  a  commission  ;  and,  thinking  still  of  his  father, 
by  the  time  he  returned  to  the  house  he  had  quite 
forgotten  Peregrine. 

The  rain  had  nearly  ceased ;  there  seemed  even 
a  prospect  of  a  clear  sunset,  and  with  the  lighten- 
ing of  the  weather  Hugh  cast  aside  the  heavy 
feeling  of  half-regretful  parting  which  had  weighed 
on  him  all  day  and  grew  impatient  for  darkness, 
when  he  could  set  out  on  his  journey.  But  the 
night  came  slowly,  as  any  other  night,  with  a  rift 
of  watery  sunset  in  the  west  and  mottled  yellow 
clouds,  that  fading  gave  place  to  the  long,  gray 
twilight,  which  deepened  imperceptibly. 

Hugh  started  early  to  his  room,  which  was  in 
the  east  wing,  so  he  went  by  the  staircase  from 


28  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

the  little  hall.  Halfway  up,  as  he  strode  two 
steps  at  a  time,  he  almost  stumbled  over  a 
slight  figure  that  caught  at  his  arm.  "  Lois ! " 
he  cried. 

The  girl  rose  to  her  feet.  "  Why  are  you  angry 
with  me,  Hugh  ?  "  she  asked,  and  though  he  could 
not  see  her  face  he  knew  by  her  voice  she  was 
almost  sobbing. 

"  Why  did  you  run  away  from  me  yester- 
day?" he  replied,  feeling  foolish  and  without 
excuse. 

"  No  matter.  I  have  forgot.  But  I  wanted  to 
have  speech  with  you." 

"  You  waited  here  to  bid  me  farewell  ?  'Twas 
good  of  you,  Lois,"  Hugh  blurted  out.  "  I  am 
sorry  I  was  so  rough  to  you  about  yesterday." 

"  Then  we'll  part  still  friends  ? "  Lois  said 
eagerly.  "And  here  is  something  you  are  to 
take  with  you." 

"  Your  five  shillings  ?  "  Hugh  broke  out,  as  she 
pressed  the  coins  into  his  hand.  "  Nay,  Lois,  I 
cannot." 

"  You  must ;  'twill  be  a  long  journey,  and  you 
have  little  money,  I  know.  And  I  shall  never 
have  need  of  such  a  hoard.  Prithee,  take  it, 
Hugh,  else  I  shall  think  you  still  are  angry  be- 
cause I  left  you  yesterday.  But  truly,  'twas  only 
that  I  could  not  bear  the  thought  of  your  going." 
She  was  crying  now  in  good  earnest,  and  Hugh 
tried  awkwardly  to  soothe  her  and  whisper  her 
some  comfort :  he  wished  she  were  a  boy  and 
could  go  with  him,  perhaps  even  now  he  could 
come  back  some  time  and  fetch  her;  he  never 
would  forget  what  a  good  friend  she  had  been 


ii   HOW  ONE  SET  OUT  TO  SEEK  HIS  FORTUNE     29 

to  him;  and  much  more  he  was  saying,  when 
Martha's  voice  came  from  below  in  the  dusk  of 
the  hall :  "  Lois." 

"  I  must  go,"  the  girl  whispered.  "  Farewell, 
Hugh." 

"  Farewell,  Lois." 

"  God  keep  you,  dear,  always." 

He  heard  her  go  slowly  down  the  stairs  and 
wished  she  had  stayed  with  him  longer ;  he  might 
have  said  more  cheering  things.  Then  he  heard 
the  footsteps  of  the  two  girls  die  away  in  the  hall, 
and  he  went  on  to  his  room. 

He  had  placed  his  pistol  on  a  chair  beneath  his 
cloak  and  hat,  and  had  just  lain  down  in  his  under- 
garments and  stockings  beneath  the  coverings, 
when  Sam  came  in  full  of  conversation,  which 
Hugh's  short  replies  quickly  silenced.  But  after 
the  boy  had  lain  down  Hugh  remembered  that 
this  was  the  last  night  they  would  sleep  together, 
and,  repenting  his  shortness,  he  said  gently: 
"  Good  night,  Sam." 

"  What's  wrong  with  you  ? "  asked  his  cousin, 
which  made  Hugh  feel  foolish  and  answer  curtly, 
"  Nothing." 

Then  there  was  a  long  silence  in  the  dark 
chamber,  till  at  length  Sam  was  breathing  deep 
and  evenly.  He  was  well  asleep,  Hugh  assured 
himself,  so,  slipping  quietly  from  the  bed,  he 
quickly  drew  on  his  outer  clothes,  put  on  cloak 
and  hat,  and  tucked  the  pistol  in  his  belt.  He 
was  just  taking  his  shoes  in  his  hand,  when  Sam 
stirred  and  asked  drowsily :  "  What  are  you  doing 
now  ? " 

"  I  saw  Martha's  battledoor  out  o'  doors,"  Hugh 


30  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

mumbled.  "  I  must  fetch  it  or  the  dew  will 
spoil  it." 

Sam  gave  a  sleepy  sigh,  then  buried  his  head  in 
the  pillow  again,  and  Hugh,  waiting  for  no  more, 
stole  out  of  the  room  into  the  darkness  of  the 
corridor  that  was  so  thick  it  seemed  tangible. 
He  scuffed  cautiously  to  the  stairs  and  with  his 
hand  on  the  railing  groped  his  way  down.  As 
he  went  he  grew  more  accustomed  to  the  black- 
ness, and  so,  treading  carefully,  came  without 
stumbling  or  noise  to  the  outer  door.  He  worked 
back  the  bolt,  cautiously  and  slowly,  and  with  a 
nervous  start  at  each  faint  creak,  till  at  last  he 
could  push  the  door  open  far  enough  to  slip 
through.  The  grass  felt  cold  beneath  his  stock- 
inged feet ;  the  night  wind  came  damp  and  chilly 
against  his  face.  With  a  shiver  that  was  not  all 
from  cold  he  drew  the  door  to,  more  quickly  than 
he  had  thought,  for  the  metal  work  jarred  harshly. 

With  a  feeling  that  the  whole  household  must 
be  aroused  he  ran  noiselessly  across  the  terrace, 
and,  pausing  only  to  draw  on  his  shoes,  struck 
briskly  through  the  wet  grass  toward  the  park. 
At  its  outskirts  he  halted  and,  glancing  back, 
took  a  last  look  at  Everscombe,  black  and  silent 
under  the  stars.  Only  in  one  window,  that  of 
his  grandfather's  chamber  in  the  main  building, 
was  a  candle  burning,  and  the  thought  of  the 
habitable  room  in  which  it  shone  made  the  night 
seem  darker  and  lonelier.  Hugh  looked  quickly 
away,  and  calling  up  his  resolution  plunged  in 
among  the  trees. 

He  had  meant  to  go  through  to  the  highway  by 
a  footpath,  but  the  woods  were  blacker  than  he 


n  HOW  ONE  SET  OUT  TO  SEEK  HIS  FORTUNE     31 

had  thought  for ;  again  and  again  he  missed  the 
track,  till  at  last,  finding  himself  on  the  beaten 
roadway  from  the  manor  house,  he  decided  the 
quicker  course  was  to  follow  it.  He  had  covered 
perhaps  half  the  distance  and  was  trudging  along 
with  his  head  bent  to  look  to  his  footsteps,  when 
from  the  thicket  just  before  him  came  a  voice : 
"  Stand,  there !  " 

Hugh  stopped  where  he  was,  half  frightened 
for  the  instant,  then  half  inclined  to  run,  when 
an  erect  figure  stepping  from  beneath  a  neighbor- 
ing tree  barred  his  path.  By  the  long  cloak  and 
the  staff  on  which  the  man  leaned  Hugh  guessed 
it  was  his  grandfather,  even  before  Master  Oldes- 
worth  spoke  again :  "  So  you  are  leaving  us, 
Hugh  Gwyeth?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  Hugh  replied  defiantly. 

"  So  I  had  judged.  You  are  bound  for  the 
near  park  gate  ?  " 

Hugh  nodded. 

"  You  must  bear  with  my  company  that  far." 

So  side  by  side  they  passed  down  the  dark 
roadway,  till  presently  the  trees  thinned  and  the 
starlight  reached  them.  Then  Hugh  glanced 
up  at  his  companion's  face  but  found  it  fixed  in 
so  stern  an  expression  that  he  did  not  care  to 
look  again. 

"  You  are  going  to  your  father  ?  "  Master  Oldes- 
worth  queried  after  a  time. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  Hugh  replied.  The  defiance  had 
gone  from  his  tone  now. 

At  length  the  dimly  seen  roadway  ran  between 
two  huge  dark  pillars,  half  hidden  by  the  trees ; 
it  was  the  park  gate,  Hugh  saw,  and  beyond  was 


32  HUGH   GWYETH  CH, 

the  king's  highway.  Involuntarily  he  slackened 
his  pace,  and  his  grandfather  halted  too,  and 
stood  by  one  of  the  pillars,  resting  both  hands 
upon  the  top  of  his  staff.  "  Then  you  have  the 
grace  to  hesitate  a  moment,"  the  old  man  spoke, 
"  before  you  leave  those  who  have  sheltered  you  ?  " 

Hugh  dared  not  trust  his  voice  to  reply,  and 
after  a  moment  Master  Oldesworth  continued 
slowly:  "It  is  your  mother  over  again.  We 
reared  her  and  cared  for  her,  and  she  left  us  for 
Alan  Gwyeth ;  and  you  —  Have  you  not  had  a 
home  here  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  Hugh  answered  meekly.  He  knew 
well  that  the  grievances  which  were  so  true  when 
he  told  them  to  Lois  would  be  nothing  in  his 
grandfather's  sight. 

"  And  what  has  this  father  for  whom  you  leave 
us  done  for  you  ? "  Master  Oldesworth  pursued. 
"  You  cannot  answer  ?  He  broke  your  mother's 
heart  and  deserted  you  —  " 

"  He  is  my  father,"  Hugh  replied. 

"  Go  to  him,  then,  as  your  mother  did  before 
you.  But  mark  you  this,  Hugh  Gwyeth :  I 
received  her  back  when  Alan  Gwyeth  wearied  of 
her,  but  I  shall  never  receive  you  back.  Go  now, 
and  you  go  for  all  time." 

"  I  shall  never  ask  you  to  take  me  back." 
Hugh  tried  to  speak  stoutly,  but  his  voice  faltered 
in  an  ignoble  manner. 

"  Now  consider  well,"  his  grandfather  contin- 
ued. "  When  you  pass  the  gate  it  will  be  to  me 
as  if  you  had  never  lived.  Be  not  rash,  Hugh," 
he  went  on  more  gently.  "  Come  back  with  me 
to  the  house ;  this  folly  of  yours  shall  never  be 


ii  HOW  ONE  SET  OUT  TO  SEEK  HIS  FORTUNE     33 

known,  and  I  shall  look  to  your  welfare  as  I 
always  have.  But  if  you  choose  to  go  to  that 
place  of  perdition,  the  king's  camp,  and  to  that 
evil  man,  Alan  Gwyeth,  I  forget  you  are  my 
daughter's  son.  Now  make  your  choice  between 
that  man  and  me." 


CHAPTER    III 

THE    ROAD   TO    NOTTINGHAM 

OVER  in  the  marsh  beyond  the  dim  highway 
the  frogs  were  piping  their  lonesome  note ;  the 
shrilling  call  of  autumnal  insects  sounded  from 
the  wayside ;  of  a  sudden  the  waste  darkness 
reechoed  with  solitary  noises.  All  came  clearly 
to  Hugh's  ear  in  the  hush  that  followed  his 
grandfather's  words,  and  with  them  something 
that  was  akin  to  fright  laid  hold  on  him.  Out- 
side the  park  gate  the  world  looked  vast  and 
black ;  he  felt  himself  weak  in  his  youthful  ness, 
so  even  the  butt  of  his  pistol  for  which  he  groped 
did  not  strengthen  his  courage.  He  looked  to 
his  grandfather  and  involuntarily  made  a  step 
toward  him,  but  Master  Oldesworth  still  stood 
with  his  hands  upon  the  top  of  his  staff  and 
watched  him  but  made  no  sign.  With  a  sting- 
ing sense  of  rebuff  Hugh  drew  back  and  held 
himself  quiet,  while  he  strove  to  think  clearly 
and  so  make  his  resolution  without  prejudice. 
But  all  the  time  he  felt  that  invisible  hands  were 
surely  haling  him  back  to  Everscombe  and  with 
his  whole  will  he  struggled  against  them.  "  Will 
it  be  ended  past  question  when  I  go  out  at  the 
gateway  ?  "  he  cried,  almost  before  his  thought 
had  framed  the  words. 

34 


CH.  in          THE  ROAD  TO   NOTTINGHAM  35 

He  did  not  even  wait  for  an  assent,  but  as  he 
spoke  stepped  out  beyond  the  pillars  of  the  gate 
into  the  rough  highway.  There  he  faced  about  sud- 
denly. "  Grandfather,"  he  cried,  "I  —  I  am  grate- 
ful for  all  you  have  done  for  me.  Prithee,  forgive 
me."  The  words  died  away  then,  for  he  saw  Master 
Oldesworth  had  turned  and  was  walking  slowly 
toward  Everscombe,  nor  did  he  once  look  back. 

For  an  instant  it  was  borne  in  on  Hugh  to  run 
after  his  grandfather,  to  implore  pardon,  to  beg  to 
be  taken  back  and  suffered  to  live  the  old  dull 
life  at  the  manor  house ;  then  the  impulse  left 
him  and  he  was  more  ashamed  of  it  than  of  his 
previous  wavering.  Still  he  lingered  by  the  gate, 
straining  his  eyes  into  the  dusk  of  the  park  till 
long  after  he  had  lost  sight  of  Master  Oldes- 
worth. Once  more  he  became  aware  of  the  sad 
piping  of  frogs  in  the  marsh,  and  he  listened 
stupidly,  while  heavier  and  heavier  he  felt  the 
weight  of  loneliness  press  upon  him.  For  he 
now  realized  that  his  decision  had  indeed  been 
irrevocable ;  for  all  time  he  was  cut  off  from  his 
kinsfolk  and  his  only  home. 

When  at  last  he  turned  slowly  from  the  gate- 
way there  was  no  hopefulness  in  his  step  nor 
did  he  lift  his  eyes  from  the  ground,  unless  to 
glance  up  at  the  familiar  trees  of  the  park  that 
he  should  not  see  again.  But  at  length,  through 
the  branches  before  him,  he  beheld  Charles's  Wain 
shining  clear  and  the  bright  Pole  Star  that  seemed 
to  point  him  northward  to  the  king  and  to  his 
father.  At  that  Hugh  straightened  his  drooping 
shoulders  resolutely  and  in  good  earnest  set  forth 
upon  his  journey. 


36  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

The  new  moon  had  long  been  set,  but  the  stars 
were  bright  and  the  way  amid  the  trees  was  plain 
to  follow.  A  pleasant  freshness  of  the  early  fall 
was  in  the  faint  night  breeze  and  yet  a  lurking 
chill,  that  made  Hugh  glad  to  draw  his  cloak 
closer  and  trudge  on  more  briskly.  It  was  not 
long  after  midnight  when  he  reached  the  first 
cottage  on  the  outskirts  of  the  village  of  Kings- 
ford  ;  he  had  passed  the  cheery  little  timbered 
dwelling  many  a  time,  but  now,  muffled  in  the 
night,  it  seemed  unfamiliar.  As  his  feet  crunched 
the  gravel  of  the  road  before  the  cottage  he 
heard  the  house  dog  bark  within,  and  a  sudden 
feeling  of  being  shut  out  came  over  him.  The 
dark  houses,  as  he  hurried  by  them,  had  the  awe- 
some blankness  of  sleeping  faces;  even  in  the 
woods  he  had  not  been  so  lonely  as  here  in 
Kingsford,  where  human  beings  were  within  call. 

But  as  he  drew  to  the  end  of  the  straggling 
village  he  slackened  his  pace.  The  road,  ascend- 
ing slightly  here,  skirted  the  churchyard,  where 
he  could  see  the  light  streak  that  marked  the 
pathway,  and  the  huddled  stones,  blacker  against 
the  turf.  For  a  moment  he  rested  his  arms  upon 
the  lich  wall  and  stood  gazing  across  the  graves 
at  the  dense  bulk  of  the  little  Norman  church, 
with  its  side  porch  overshadowed  by  a  dark  yew 
tree  and  its  square  tower  cleanly  outlined'  against 
the  starry  sky.  In  the  chancel  of  the  church  his 
mother  lay  buried.  She  would  have  approved 
what  he  was  doing,  he  told  himself;  she  would 
gladly  have  returned  to  Alan  Gwyeth.  With 
every  fibre  of  his  resolution  newly  braced  he  once 
more  took  up  his  march,  down  the  gentle  slope 


m  THE   ROAD  TO  NOTTINGHAM  37 

and  across  the  one-arched  bridge  that  spanned 
the  river  Arrow.  There,  with  the  sound  of  the 
hurrying  water  in  his  ears,  he  paused  and  took  a 
final  glance  at  the  tower  of  Kingsford  church,  and 
as  he  passed  on  wondered  vaguely  if  he  should 
ever  set  eyes  on  it  again,  and  when,  and  how. 

Beyond  Kingsford  the  road  ran  once  more 
through  woods  with  now  and  again  a  space  of 
open  land  or  a  retired  farmhouse.  Hugh  gave 
little  heed  to  the  country  round  him,  however; 
he  noted  only  that  he  had  firm  road  beneath 
his  feet,  the  cool  morning  wind  in  his  face,  and 
the  stars  overhead  to  light  him.  But  the  wind 
grew  chilly  and  faint  with  approaching  dawn ; 
the  stars  paled ;  from  far  away  across  the  cleared 
fields  a  cock  crowed  and  another  answered  him. 
When  Hugh  entered  the  village  next  beyond 
Kingsford,  the  sky  was  fading  to  a  dull  leaden 
color  and  he  shivered  with  the  cold  of  breaking 
day.  Already  people  were  beginning  to  stir ;  he 
met  laborers  going  afield  and  from  roadside  barns 
heard  men  shouting  to  cattle,  and  the  bark  of 
dogs.  About  the  little  inn  there  were  some  signs 
of  life,  so  he  entered  and  bought  bread  of  a 
tousled-headed  woman.  Coming  out  of  the  house 
he  saw  the  eastern  sky  was  breaking  into  billows 
of  pink,  and  a  little  later  the  cold  yellow  sun 
burst  forth. 

Hugh  munched  his  bread  as  he  tramped  along, 
and  the  food  and  the  daylight  heartened  him 
wonderfully.  When  the  sun  got  higher  he  slung 
his  cloak  over  one  shoulder,  whistled  for  com- 
pany, and  almost  felt  it  in  his  heart  to  run  when 
he  came  to  an  especially  even  bit  of  road.  For 


38  HUGH  GWYETH  ca 

he  was  his  own  man  now,  out  in  the  world,  with 
his  pistol  at  his  side,  his  five  shillings  and  odd 
pence  in  his  pocket,  and  his  face  set  toward 
Nottingham. 

Something  before  noon  he  trudged  into  the 
great  town  of  Warwick  and  made  his  way  to  a 
tavern  he  knew  from  his  school  days.  That  time 
was  now  a  good  four  months  past,  so  he  felt  en- 
titled to  put  a  bit  of  swagger  into  his  gait  and 
rather  hoped  that  in  his  new  freedom  he  might 
meet  with  some  of  his  former  schoolfellows. 
But  he  kept  a  wary  eye  out  for  his  old  master, 
Doctor  Masham,  who,  he  suspected,  might  appre- 
hend him  on  the  spot  for  a  runaway  and  pack 
him  off  to  Everscombe ;  so  he  drew  a  breath  of 
relief  when  he  reached  the  tavern  in  safety. 
There  he  bought  him  sixpence  worth  of  bread 
and  meat,  and,  too  hungry  to  give  great  heed  to 
the  varied  company  in  which  he  found  himself, 
spared  expense  by  eating  in  the  common  room. 

As  his  hunger  abated  he  became  aware  of  an  ex- 
ceeding stiffness  in  the  muscles  of  his  legs  which 
made  him  almost  wince  when  he  rose  again.  He 
hobbled  as  far  as  the  door,  where  a  bench  in 
the  sun  proved  so  tempting  that  he  sat  down  to 
rest  him  just  a  moment  before  starting  out.  Not 
only  did  his  legs  ache  but  he  found  his  eyelids 
heavy  and  his  head  dull,  and  he  was  possessed  of 
a  great  desire  to  yawn  and  stretch  himself.  He 
finally  lay  down  with  his  head  on  his  arms  and 
would  have  given  himself  up  to  thoughts  of  Not- 
tingham, only  an  endless  line  of  swaying  trees 
and  dark  farmhouses  kept  sliding  before  his 
eyes. 


m  THE  ROAD  TO   NOTTINGHAM  39 

The  next  thing  he  knew  some  one  shook  him, 
and  he  heard  the  voice  of  one  of  the  drawers 
saying,  "  Now  then,  master,  dost  mean  to  pay  us 
for  the  use  o'  that  bench  ? " 

Hugh  blinked  his  eyes  open  and  sat  up  stiffly; 
one  or  two  idlers  stood  gazing  at  him  with  amused 
faces,  but  for  the  rest  the  inn  porch  was  deserted, 
and  the  sunlight  had  climbed  above  the  windows 
of  the  second  story.  "  Why,  what's  the  time  ?  " 
he  cried,  broad  awake  as  he  perceived  that. 

"  Mid-afternoon  and  long  past,"  said  the  drawer, 
whereat  Hugh  jumped  to  his  feet  and  walked 
away,  so  vexed  at  his  sluggishness  that  for  the 
first  half-mile  he  scarcely  heeded  the  soreness  of 
his  legs. 

After  that  his  gait  grew  slower  and  more  halt- 
ing, but  he  set  his  teeth  and  pulled  himself  along, 
as  if  it  were  an  enemy  he  held  by  the  collar ;  he 
had  made  up  his  mind  to  sleep  some  six  or  eight 
miles  out  of  Warwick  at  a  hamlet  that  marked 
the  furthest  limit  of  his  school  rambles,  and  his 
plan  should  not  be  altered  because  he  had  fool- 
ishly slept  away  precious  time.  The  sun  set  and 
left  him  toiling  along  the  highway ;  the  twilight 
darkened ;  and  the  crescent  of  the  moon  was  rid- 
ing low  among  the  stars,  when  Hugh  dragged  his 
tired  feet  over  the  threshold  of  the  inn  for  which 
he  aimed.  The  house  was  about  closing  and 
there  was  little  welcome  for  this  belated  traveller, 
but  from  sheer  weariness  the  boy  was  past  resent- 
ing uncivil  usage.  He  ate  thankfully  what  was 
given  him,  stumbled  away  to  his  chamber,  and, 
almost  before  he  had  flung  off  his  dusty  clothes, 
was  sound  asleep. 


40  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

When  he  woke  the  mid-morning  sun  was 
streaming  through  the  window  full  in  his  face, 
but  there  was  a  sharpness  in  the  air  of  the  little 
chamber  that  made  him  pull  the  blankets  up  to 
his  chin.  The  poor  inn  bed  seemed  far  more 
comfortable  than  any  he  had  slept  upon  at  Evers- 
combe ;  it  took  an  inordinate  amount  of  resolu- 
tion to  rise  from  it,  and  an  equal  courage  to  drag 
his  shoes  on  to  his  swollen  feet.  But  he  had 
already  lost  the  bracing  early  hours  of  the  day 
and  he  must  waste  no  more  time  in  coddling  him- 
self, so  he  took  the  road  at  once,  as  briskly  as  his 
limbs  would  bear  him. 

Sore  and  stiff  as  he  still  was  from  yesterday's 
long  march,  he  made  slow  progress ;  it  was  close 
on  midday  when,  passing  through  the  town  of 
Coventry,  he  entered  upon  the  old  Roman  road, 
the  Fosse,  which  he  was  to  follow.  The  sight  of 
the  straight  way  stretching  endlessly  northeast 
discouraged  him  at  first,  but  after  a  short  rest  he 
pulled  himself  together  and,  hobbling  on,  half 
forgot  the  pain  in  his  heels  in  the  exhilaration  of 
going  forward.  It  was  new  country  he  was  now 
passing  through,  for  he  was  no  traveller;  Evers- 
combe  to  Warwick  had  been  his  usual  round,  save 
for  that  one  trip  into  Worcestershire  with  Frank 
Pleydall.  Since  the  last  year,  when  Peregrine 
had  been  up  to  London  with  his  father,  Hugh 
had  fretted  at  the  narrow  range  of  his  journey- 
ings  and  felt  aggrieved  at  having  made  his  Ger- 
man travels  so  young  that  he  could  cudgel  up 
only  scant  recollections  of  them.  But  now  Pere- 
grine might  go  to  London  or  Staffordshire  or 
whither  he  pleased;  Hugh  felt  no  jealousy,  for  he 


ra  THE  ROAD  TO   NOTTINGHAM  41 

knew  it  was  far  pleasanter  to  be  an  independent 
traveller,  bound  to  Nottingham  and  a  soldier 
father. 

Thus,  though  he  no  longer  had  any  wish  to 
run,  he  contrived  to  jog  along  quite  cheerily  till 
mid-afternoon.  Then  the  low-lying  clouds  dark- 
ened and  a  soft  rain,  striking  chilly  against  Hugh's 
face,  made  him  glad  to  pull  his  cloak  up  to  his 
eyes.  The  fields  and  cottages  looked  gray  through 
the  downpour,  and  then  all  he  saw  was  the  broad 
puddles  of  the  roadway,  as  of  necessity  he  bent 
his  head  against  the  storm.  At  each  step  he 
could  hear  the  water  oozing  in  his  shoes,  his 
stockings  were  clammy  wet,  and  his  hat  brim 
flapped  cold  against  his  forehead ;  but  as  the  after- 
noon waned  he  lost  these  single  sensations,  and 
only  knew  that  from  head  to  foot  he  was  soaked 
and  numb  and  weary.  Still  he  plodded  on,  be- 
cause he  must  hold  out  till  he  reached  an  inn, 
but  it  was  at  a  heavy  mechanical  pace,  while  he 
counted  the  steps  and  wondered  drearily  if  the 
march  would  never  end. 

Twilight  was  turning  to  night  when  he  splashed 
at  last  into  a  considerable  village  and  stumbled 
into  the  first  inn  to  which  he  came.  There  was 
a  brisk  fire  in  the  common  room  and  but  one 
other  guest,  so  Hugh  was  free  to  slip  into  the 
chimney  corner  and  dry  his  dripping  clothes 
while  he  ate  his  supper.  For  civility's  sake  he 
began  talking  to  his  companion,  from  whom  he 
learned  that  he  was  now  over  the  boundary  and 
into  Leicestershire.  The  knowledge  gave  him  a 
chjldish  homesick  pang ;  Everscombe  seemed  to 
have  fallen  hopelessly  far  behind  him  and  Netting- 


42  HUGH   GWYETH  ca 

ham  was  still  distant  the  length  of  a  county.  With 
no  further  care  to  eat  he  thrust  aside  his  trencher 
and  dragged  himself  off  to  bed. 

In  his  waking  moments  he  heard  the  rain  plash- 
ing softly  on  the  thatch  of  the  shed  beneath  his 
window,  and  with  the  morning  light  he  found  the 
sky  still  gray  and  the  storm  still  beating  down. 
He  put  out  one  hand  to  his  coat,  flung  on  the 
stool  beside  his  pallet,  and  felt  that  it  was  not 
half  dried  from  yesterday's  soaking.  Then  for  a 
time  he  rested  quiet  again,  while  he  wondered  in 
half-shamed  fashion  if  he  might  not  lie  by  a  day 
till  the  storm  was  over.  But  when  he  reckoned 
up  his  store  of  money,  he  saw  he  could  not  afford 
to  lose  so  many  hours ;  it  was  yet  more  than  two 
days'  march  to  Nottingham,  and  he  had  not  full 
three  shillings  to  keep  him  on  the  wayi  He  won- 
dered at  the  speed  with  which  money  went,  for 
he  was  new  to  ordering  such  matters ;  hitherto 
he  had  been  sure  of  his  three  meals  a  day  and 
bed  at  night,  and  looked  upon  stray  sixpences  as 
valuable  only  for  the  apples  and  tops  into  which 
they  might  be  turned.  He  put  that  last  recol- 
lection out  of  his  head  as  speedily  as  possible, 
ashamed  of  his  scarcely  ended  childhood,  and, 
accepting  the  responsibilities  of  the  manhood  he 
had  claimed  for  himself,  got  up  and  dragged  on 
his  damp  clothes. 

After  breakfasting  he  wrapped  his  sodden  cloak 
about  him  and  plunged  resolutely  out  into  the 
rain.  The  heavy  mud  stayed  him  with  clogging 
his  shoes,  but  he  was  now  somewhat  seasoned  for 
the  march  and  managed  to  keep  up  a  pace  that, 
though  not  of  the  fastest,  was  steady.  So  he  came 


m  THE   ROAD  TO   NOTTINGHAM  43 

at  length  through  the  afternoon  drizzle  to  the 
town  of  Leicester,  which  he  loyally  told  himself 
was  not  the  half  as  fine  as  his  own  old  Warwick. 
But  none  the  less  he  made  his  lodging  there  that 
night,  and  he  went  to  bed  hopefully ;  for  the  west- 
ern clouds  were  showing  a  faint  yellow  streak  that 
promised  better  weather  on  the  morrow. 

Sure  enough,  when  morning  came  the  rain  had 
ceased  to  fall,  and  though  the  air  was  still  heavy 
with  mist  there  seemed  a  prospect  the  sun  might 
yet  break  through.  Hugh  took  the  highway  in 
gay  spirits,  and  plodding  along  at  a  stouter  pace 
than  on  the  day  before  congratulated  himself  on 
covering  such  a  deal  of  ground.  But  by  noon  he 
came  to  a  less  flattering  estimate  of  himself;  for, 
talking  with  an  idler  at  a  small  tavern  he  had 
entered  to  buy  his  dinner,  he  discovered  he  was 
now  following  the  Fosse  not  to  Nottingham  but 
to  Newark.  Thereat  Hugh  faced  about  to  retrace 
his  steps,  too  vexed  at  his  own  stupidity  to  allow 
himself  to  stop  for  dinner.  His  informant  called 
after  him  some  direction  about  a  cross-way  to 
the  Nottingham  road,  which  he  scarcely  heeded 
at  the  moment ;  but  afterward,  when  he  was  out 
of  the  village,  he  remembered,  and  striking  across 
the  fields  came  into  a  narrow  road  full  of  ruts  and 
great  puddles. 

At  first  Hugh  splashed  along  recklessly,  but 
presently,  when  a  streak  oi  sunlight  crept  through 
the  trees  and  turned  the  puddles  bright,  he  let 
his  pace  slacken  and  little  by  little  brought  him- 
self back  to  a  more  contented  mood.  After  all, 
he  could  make  up  by  steady  walking  what  he  had 
lost,  and  in  any  case  Nottingham  was  now  less 


44  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

than  two  days'  journey  distant.  He  began  whis- 
tling for  content,  then  stopped,  as  a  rustling  in 
the  bushes  ahead  caught  his  ear.  He  saw  the 
branches  crackle  outward,  and  two  men,  burst- 
ing through,  came  swinging  down  the  roadway 
to  meet  him. 

Recovering  from  his  first  surprise,  Hugh  pre- 
pared to  give  them  the  usual  traveller's  good  day, 
but  on  second  glance  kept  to  his  side  of  the  road 
and  walked  more  rapidly.  One  of  the  fellows 
was  thick-set  and  well  tanned,  and  chewed  a 
straw  as  he  trudged ;  the  other,  a  younger  man, 
clad  like  a  field  laborer,  was  taller  and  hulking, 
with  a  bearded,  low-browed  face.  As  they  came 
abreast  he  bade  Hugh  a  surly  good  even  and 
on  the  word,  almost  before  the  boy  could  reply, 
gave  a  grip  at  his  collar.  Hugh  dodged  back 
and  pulled  out  his  pistol,  while  the  thought  flashed 
through  his  head  that  running  was  impossible  in 
this  mire,  —  and  then  it  was  not  befitting  his 
father's  son.  Next  instant  the  tall  man  sprang 
upon  him  and  Hugh,  thrusting  the  pistol  into 
his  face,  pulled  the  trigger,  then  felt  the  weapon 
knocked  out  of  his  hand  and  found  himself  grap- 
pling with  his  big  antagonist.  The  man's  fingers 
pressed  into  his  throat,  he  knew;  and  he  remem- 
bered afterward  how  a  smooch  of  red  flecked  the 
fellow's  beard,  as  he  dashed  his  fist  against  his 
mouth.  Then  he  was  griping  the  other  about 
the  neck,  hammering  up  at  that  stained  face,  and 
he  heard  the  fellow  bawl,  "  Devil  and  all !  Why 
don't  'ee  come  in  and  help  me,  Jock  ?  "  Another 
gruff  voice  retorted,  "  If  thou  canst  not  handle  a 
younker  like  that,  thou  deservest  to  have  bloody 


ra  THE  ROAD  TO  NOTTINGHAM  45 

teeth."  Then  of  a  sudden  Hugh  found  himself 
twisted  over  so  he  saw  the  sky  above  him  all  shot 
with  black,  and  he  felt  a  bursting  pain  in  his 
forehead.  Thrusting  up  his  hands  gropingly,  he 
went  down  full  length  in  the  mud  without  strength 
enough  in  him  to  move,  even  when  the  tall  man 
knelt  over  him  and,  with  one  hand  on  his  throat, 
rifled  his  pockets. 

"  Here,  have  back  your  pistol,  master,"  he  heard 
the  gruff  voice  say,  and  he  dimly  saw  the  well 
tanned  man,  with  a  grin  on  his  face,  fling  the  pis- 
tol down  in  the  mud  beside  him.  Then  the  two 
walked  off  at  their  old  swinging  pace,  and  Hugh 
dragged  himself  up  on  his  elbow  and  lay  staring 
uncomprehendingly  at  his  bleeding  knuckles. 
After  a  time  he  got  painfully  to  his  feet  and  in 
mechanical  fashion  reckoned  up  the  damages ; 
they  had  taken  his  cloak  and  cleaned  his  pockets 
of  money  and  of  everything  but  the  creased  letter 
from  Frank  Pleydall  and  a  loose  bit  of  string. 
They  had  left  him  nothing  but  the  torn  and  well- 
muddied  clothes  he  wore  and  the  pistol,  that  now 
was  all  befouled  with  mire.  As  Hugh  picked  it 
up  all  the  hot  anger  of  the  actual  conflict  swept 
over  him  again,  and  with  some  wild  idea  of  mak- 
ing the  robbers  restore  their  plunder  he  staggered 
a  few  steps  down  the  road.  Then  strength  failed 
him,  and  dropping  down  by  the  roadside  he  sat 
with  his  aching  head  in  his  hands.  The  world 
was  a  brutal  place,  he  reflected  with  dumb  re- 
sentment ;  even  if  a  man  had  courage  enough  he 
did  not  always  have  the  muscle  to  defend  his  own, 
not  even  with  a  pistol  to  back  him. 

It  did  not  better  matters  to  sit  there  and  whim- 


46  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

per,  so  after  a  time  he  rose  and,  still  rather  dazed 
with  his  drubbing,  went  unsteadily  on  his  way. 
At  the  first  brook  he  halted  to  wash  his  wounded 
hands  and  cleanse  the  pistol,  which  he  dried  upon 
his  coat  as  well  as  he  could.  The  rest  of  the 
afternoon  he  marched  slowly  because  of  the  diz- 
ziness in  his  head,  and  so  the  twilight  had  over- 
taken him  before  he  reached  the  main  road  and  a 
village  that  lay  upon  it. 

Close  by  the  wayside  stood  a  tavern,  where 
candles  were  lighted  and  food  would  be  cooking, 
but  Hugh  only  gave  one  wistful  look  and  passed 
on.  He  made  his  supper  of  a  drink  of  water  from 
the  public  well,  and,  falling  in  speech  there  with 
some  loiterers,  he  found  he  was  now  into  the  shire 
of  Nottingham  and  not  above  ten  miles  from  the 
town.  His  heart  jumped  at  the  news,  but  next 
moment  he  was  telling  himself  he  could  not 
tramp  those  miles  in  the  dark  and  he  grew  sober 
as  he  realized  unwillingly  that  he  must  sleep  in 
the  open.  Till  mid-evening  he  lingered  in  the 
village  street,  then,  drawing  reluctantly  away  from 
the  sight  of  the  few  candles  that  still  shone  in 
cottages,  passed  on  to  the  outskirts  of  the  ham- 
let. After  a  cautious  reconnoissance  he  crept 
through  a  hedge  into  a  field,  where  he  had  dimly 
made  out  in  the  darkness  a  stack  of  straw,  in  the 
lee  of  which  he  snuggled  down.  The  straw 
rustled  with  startling  loudness  at  his  least  move- 
ment, and  the  earth  beneath  him  was  so  damp  his 
teeth  chattered  in  his  head.  The  strangeness  of 
the  place  kept  him  many  moments  awake,  but  he 
held  his  eyes  shut  that  he  might  not  have  sight 
of  the  lowering  sky.  Little  by  little  he  forgot  it 


ni  THE  ROAD  TO   NOTTINGHAM  47 

all  and  fell  to  thinking  of  the  last  time  he  had 
lain  in  the  open,  when  he  and  Sam  Oldesworth 
had  stolen  out  for  a  frolic  to  lie  the  night  in 
Everscombe  Park.  How  Sam  would  have  mar- 
velled at  this  night's  doings !  And  Lois,  only 
Lois  would  have  pitied  him,  like  a  girl. 

Then  he  knew  there  had  been  a  long  space  in 
which  Lois  and  all  other  remembrances  left  him, 
and  he  found  himself  shivering  in  the  midst  of 
wet  straw  with  gray  morning  light  all  around 
him.  He  crawled  to  his  feet  and  making  his 
way  to  the  highroad  slowly  set  forth  again.  He 
was  keenly  hungry  with  his  twenty-four  hours  of 
fasting  and  stiff  with  the  dampness  of  his  lodg- 
ing, but  he  cheered  himself  with  the  thought 
that  before  night  he  would  be  in  Nottingham. 
He  would  have  enough  to  eat  then,  and  a  bed 
to  sleep  in,  and  decent  clothes  once  more;  but 
he  put  aside  these  creature  comforts  at  the 
thought  that  he  would  see  his  father  before  he 
slept  again.  He  wondered  what  his  father  would 
say,  and  he  planned  what  he  would  tell  him, 
and  how  he  would  make  light  of  his  long  walk 
and  the  hunger  and  the  cold. 

His  heart  fairly  jumped  within  him  when  at 
last,  in  the  mid-afternoon,  he  saw  from  a  hill  a 
great  congregation  of  houses  and  steeples,  which 
he  knew  must  be  Nottingham.  He  started  down 
the  hill  on  the  run,  though  his  knees  were  smiting 
together  with  his  long  fast.  He  thought  he  could 
keep  up  the  pace  clear  to  the  gates  of  the  town, 
but  a  troublesome  stone  got  into  his  shoe,  so 
presently  he  had  to  pause  and  sit  down  under  a 
hedge  to  look  to  it.  As  he  was  pulling  on  the 


48  HUGH  GWYETH  CH.  m 

shoe  again  a  man  passing  by  bade  him  good 
day,  and  Hugh,  seeing  there  were  houses  within 
call,  so  he  need  not  fear  a  second  assault,  entered 
into  talk  with  him :  "  Vender's  Nottingham,  is  it 
not  ?  " 

"  O'  course,"  answered  the  other,  proportioning 
his  courtesy  to  the  state  of  Hugh's  jacket. 

"  How  do  you  like  having  a  king  lie  so  near? " 
Hugh  laughed  for  the  sheer  happiness  that  was 
in  him. 

"  111  enough,"  growled  the  other,  "  wi'  his  swag- 
gering ruffians  breaking  our  fields  and  kissing 
our  wenches.  Praise  Heaven  they  be  gone  now." 

"  Gone  ?  "  Hugh  echoed  blankly. 

"  Ay,  his  Majesty  and  the  whole  crew  of  his 
rakehelly  followers  went  packing  westward  three 
days  back." 


CHAPTER   IV 

TO    HORSE   AND   AWAY 

IF  Hugh  Gwyeth  had  been  a  few  years  older 
he  might  perhaps  have  cursed  his  ill  fortune ;  if 
he  had  been  a  few  years  younger  he  would  as- 
suredly have  put  his  head  down  on  his  knees  and 
wept ;  as  it  was,  being  neither  man  nor  child,  he 
blinked  his  eyelids  rapidly  and  forced  a  weak 
grin,  then  asked :  "  There's  a  road  that  runs  west 
from  Nottingham,  is  there  not,  friend  ?  Perhaps 
then  there  is  some  cross-way  from  here  by  which 
I  may  reach  it  ? " 

The  man  delayed  long  enough  to  give  full  in- 
formation about  a  path,  a  stile,  a  meadow,  and  an 
ancient  right  of  way,  which  Hugh  checked  off 
mechanically.  But  after  the  man  had  passed  on 
he  still  sat  a  time  staring  at  the  distant  roofs  of 
Nottingham  and  blinking  fast. 

At  length  he  got  to  his  feet  and  started  down 
the  hillside  by  the  path  the  man  had  shown  him, 
slowly,  for  all  the  spring  had  gone  out  of  his  gait 
now,  and  his  knees  felt  weak  and  shook  so  that 
more  than  once  he  had  to  pause  to  rest.  During 
such  a  halt  a  sickening  fear  seized  him  :  suppose 
after  all  he  should  never  reach  his  father  ?  There 
was  no  danger  of  his  dying  of  starvation  yet,  for 
he  had  had  food  as  late  as  the  previous  morning ; 

E  49 


50  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

but  what  if  strength  failed  him  and  he  fell  down 
in  the  fields  or  lonely  woods  and  slowly  perished 
there  ?  That  fear  still  staying  with  him,  he  made 
his  night's  resting-place  under  a  hedge,  almost 
within  hail  of  a  farmhouse.  He  lay  down  early 
in  the  twilight,  too  exhausted  to  make  the  day's 
march  longer,  but  he  could  not  sleep  for  very 
hunger.  In  the  first  hours  of  his  waking  the 
dim  light  in  the  distant  farmhouse  gave  him 
company,  but  after  that  he  had  only  the  stars. 
He  lay  huddled  in  a  heap  for  warmth  and  stared 
up  into  the  sky  at  Charles's  Wain  and  the  North 
Star,  that  were  shining  clear  as  on  the  night 
when  he  quitted  Everscombe. 

He  lost  sight  of  the  stars  at  last,  slept,  and 
woke  in  white  moonlight,  then  slept  and  woke 
again,  and,  finding  the  chilly  dawn  breaking,  rose 
and  plodded  painfully  out  into  the  highway. 
The  farmhouse  in  the  gray  morning  did  not 
bear  out  the  hospitable  promise  of  its  candle  of 
the  night  before ;  so,  sick  with  hunger  though  he 
was,  Hugh  went  by  it  without  so  much  as  asking 
for  a  drink  of  water.  But  a  few  rods  farther  on, 
when  he  caught  sight  of  some  apple  trees,  he 
crawled  through  the  hedge  and  helped  himself, 
then  hurried  away  guiltily  and  tramped  the  next 
quarter  mile  so  fearful  of  apprehension  that  he 
durst  not  taste  the  plunder.  When  he  did  so  he 
found  that  the  apples  were  half  sour  and  hard,  so 
he  could  scarcely  swallow  a  mouthful,  and  that 
little  sickened  him.  When  he  resumed  his  walk 
he  felt  dizzier  and  weaker  even  than  before. 

About  eleven  of  the  morning  he  passed  through 
a  small  village,  where  he  met  people  coming  to 


iv  TO   HORSE   AND  AWAY  51 

their  midday  meal.  He  loitered  along  slowly 
and  rested  a  time  by  a  well  in  the  centre  of 
the  place ;  it  was  in  his  mind  to  go  boldly  to 
some  cottage  and  ask  for  food,  but  he  could  not 
decide  which  house  looked  least  inhospitable. 
While  he  was  still  debating,  the  shameful  realiza- 
tion of  what  he  was  doing  came  over  him ;  he 
jumped  up  and,  pulling  his  battered  felt  hat  over 
his  face,  walked  away  with  something  of  his  old 
dignified  step.  But  once  outside  the  village  his 
pace  slackened,  as  he  told  himself  unsparingly 
that  begging  befitted  a  gentleman  far  better  than 
stealing,  and  he  must  now  do  one  or  the  other. 

It  was  several  hours  later  that  a  third  resource 
occurred  to  him  :  he  might  trade  something  for 
food,  his  pistol,  perhaps.  He  examined  it  care- 
fully and  decided  that,  though  it  looked  a  trifle 
rusty,  it  might  serve.  In  the  expectation  of  get- 
ting food  for  it  at  the  next  town  he  labored  on 

O 

more  hopefully,  but  the  next  village  seemed  never 
to  come,  for  his  knees  were  now  fairly  knocking 
together  and  his  halts  grew  more  frequent  and 
prolonged.  Once,  when  he  had  to  cross  a  small 
stream,  he  found  himself  too  unsure  of  foot  to 
keep  the  stepping-stones,  so  he  must  splash  into 
the  water  up  to  his  knees.  A  branch  sent  his  hat 
into  the  stream,  and,  without  heart  enough  left 
even  to  struggle  after  it,  he  let  it  drift  away. 

The  sun  was  nearly  set  when  at  last  he  came 
to  scattered  houses,  which  he  judged  must  be 
on  the  outskirts  of  a  considerable  town.  At 
the  thought  of  food  he  stumbled  forward  more 
rapidly,  with  his  pistol  in  his  hand  ready  for  the 
barter,  but  he  saw  no  possible  purchaser  till  he 


52  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

came  to  a  small  inn.  There  he  found  a  knot  of 
men  gathered  about  a  side  door,  so,  after  a 
moment's  hesitation,  he  ventured  into  the  court- 
yard. Country  fellows  they  proved  to  be,  idling 
and  smoking  on  the  inn  porch ;  one,  who  took 
the  deference  of  his  comrades  as  a  matter  of 
course,  had  the  look  of  a  small  farmer;  another 
seemed  a  smith ;  the  rest  were  of  the  ordinary 
breed  of  tavern  frequenters.  Hugh  paused  by  a 
horseblock,  and,  looking  them  over,  found  little 
encouragement  in  their  appearance,  yet  he  was 
trying  to  frame  a  proper  greeting  with  which  to 
go  up  to  them,  when  a  tapster  bustled  out  on 
the  porch  and,  getting  sight  of  him,  hailed  him 
roughly,  "  Now  then,  what  brings  you  here  ? " 

Hugh  hesitated  over  to  the  porch ;  he  had  for- 
got what  he  had  meant  to  say  and  for  a  moment 
no  words  came  to  him ;  then,  realizing  it  was 
now  or  never,  he  managed  to  stammer :  "  I  have 
a  pistol  here.  Maybe  some  one  of  you  would  — 
wish  to  buy  it."  As  he  spoke  he  held  out  the 
pistol,  but  the  farmer,  the  great  man  of  the  crew, 
shoved  it  aside  and,  pulling  fiercely  at  his  pipe, 
wheezed  out  something  about  vagabonds  and  the 
stocks.  The  blacksmith,  however,  took  the  pistol 
carelessly,  turned  it  over,  and  laughed.  "  How 
many  men  hast  killed  wi'  this,  sirrah  ? "  he  asked 
in  a  big  voice,  and  passed  the  pistol  to  his  neigh- 
bor, who  grinned  and  offered  a  ha'penny  for  it. 

Hugh  gazed  helplessly  at  the  ring  of  mocking 
faces,  then  let  his  eyes  drop  to  the  ground,  and 
with  the  blood  tingling  in  his  cheeks  waited  their 
pleasure.  He  would  gladly  have  seized  upon  his 
pistol  and  flung  away  from  them,  but  he  felt  too 


iv  TO  HORSE  AND  AWAY  53 

faint  and  hungry  to  walk  a  rod,  and  before  he 
could  get  food  he  must  make  this  sale.  But  at 
last,  with  slow  sickening  disappointment,  he  real- 
ized they  had  no  notion  of  purchasing,  but  were 
making  sport  of  him.  "  If  you  will  not  buy  —  " 
he  blurted  out  with  weak  anger. 

"  What  is  going  on  here  ? "  a  pleasantly  drawl- 
ing voice  struck  in. 

Turning  sharply  Hugh  almost  brushed  against 
a  man  who  had  approached  from  the  direction 
of  the  stables,  a  gentleman,  by  his  dress  and 
easy  bearing.  "Will  you  not  suffer  me  to  see, 
friends  ? "  he  drawled  slowly,  and  reaching  out 
his  hand  took  the  pistol  from  the  man  who  held  it. 

Gazing  up  at  him  hopefully  Hugh  saw  that  the 
newcomer  was  not  above  two  or  three  and  twenty 
years  of  age,  with  long  dark  hair  and  a  slight 
mustache,  under  which  Hugh  fancied  he  saw 
his  mouth  twitch  as  he  looked  the  pistol  over. 
Then  the  gentleman  glanced  up  and  showed  a 
pair  of  humorous  brown  eyes,  which,  as  he  sur- 
veyed Hugh,  suddenly  grew  grave.  "  Here,  I've 
need  of  a  pistol,"  he  said,  and  held  out  a  piece  of 
money. 

It  was  a  crown  piece,  Hugh  saw,  that  would 
buy  unlimited  bread,  and  meat,  too;  but,  as  his 
fingers  were  closing  over  it,  the  remembrance  of 
the  twitch  in  the  purchaser's  lips  and  the  laugh 
in  his  eyes  recurred  to  him,  and  of  a  sudden  he 
understood  that  a  pistol  which  thieves  themselves 
would  not  deprive  him  of  could  not  be  worth 
even  a  ha'penny.  He  had  no  right  to  take 
money  for  it,  he  knew,  and  in  his  disappointment 
he  grew  angry  at  his  own  stupidity,  and  angry  at 


54  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

the  brown-haired  gentleman  for  offering  him 
charity,  and  angry  at  the  other  men  who  looked 
on  and  thought  him  a  beggar  and  worse.  "  After 
all,  I'll  not  sell  it,"  he  muttered  sullenly.  "  Per- 
haps —  'tis  not  in  good  condition." 

"  'Tis  a  serviceable  weapon,"  replied  the  other. 

"  It's  worthless,"  Hugh  maintained  doggedly. 
"  Give  it  back  to  me." 

"  But  I've  taken  a  fancy  to  it." 

"  Keep  it,  then,"  Hugh  retorted,  fiercely,  so  his 
voice  might  not  break,  and  elbowing  his  way 
through  the  group  of  men  walked  off.  He  could 
smell  the  food  cooking  inside  the  tavern,  and 
hunger  gnawed  him  so  savagely  that  even  the 
thought  that  he  had  refused  charity  and  had  not 
deceived  any  one  into  buying  a  worthless  pistol 
could  not  keep  a  lump  from  gathering  in  his 
throat.  His  step  wavered  and  he  had  to  halt  an 
instant  to  lean  against  the  gate-post :  out  beyond 
the  street  looked  lonely  and  chill  in  the  misty 
twilight.  Just  then  he  heard  the  click  of  spurs 
upon  the  stones  of  the  courtyard,  and  some  one 
took  him  by  the  shoulder.  Even  before  he  heard 
the  drawl  he  knew  it  was  the  young  gentleman. 
"  Look  you  here,  sir,  I  cannot  take  your  pistol 
as  a  gift." 

More  than  one  rough  speech  came  to  Hugh's 
lips,  but  he  did  not  utter  a  word,  only  shook  off 
the  grasp  on  his  shoulder  and  without  looking  up 
made  a  step  forward.  Then  his  knees  seemed  to 
give  way,  the  ground  suddenly  came  nearer,  and, 
pride,  resentment,  and  all,  he  pitched  down  on 
the  stones  at  the  gentleman's  feet. 

The  other  bent  over  him  quickly,  and  this  time 


iv  TO  HORSE  AND   AWAY  55 

Hugh  had  neither  strength  nor  will  to  shake  him 
off.  "  What's  wrong  with  you,  lad  ? "  There 
was  almost  no  drawl  in  the  speaker's  voice, 
"Hurt?  Tired?  Hungry?" 

Hugh  nodded  dumbly. 

"  Well,  well !  That's  easier  remedied  than  a 
broken  leg.  Up  with  you,  now."  Hugh  found 
himself  upon  his  feet  again,  and,  with  the  young 
man's  hand  beneath  his  elbow,  stumbled  obe- 
diently back  across  the  courtyard  and  through  the 
little  group  about  the  door,  who  made  way  for 
them.  Within  they  turned  up  a  staircase,  and 
now  he  heard  the  man  beside  him  asking : 
"You'll  not  refuse  to  take  supper  with  me,  per- 
chance ?  When  gentlemen  meet  on  the  road  —  " 

"  You've  no  need  to  make  it  easy  unto  me," 
Hugh  gulped  out  brokenly.  "  If  some  one  did 
not  help  me  I  doubt  if  I  could  tramp  many  days 
more,  and — I'd  liefer  take  help  from  you." 

Indeed,  utter  weariness  and  hunger  had  for  the 
moment  made  an  end  of  Hugh's  dignity  as  effec- 
tually as  if  he  had  cast  it  quite  away  at  the  inn 
gate.  He  suffered  the  stranger  to  lead  him 
into  a  room  and  seat  him  in  a  big  chair  by  the 
fire,  where  he  drank  what  was  given  him  and 
swallowed  down  some  mutton  broth,  sparingly, 
at  first,  as  he  was  told.  He  troubled  himself 
neither  to  think  nor  to  speak,  but  he  noted  that 
the  dark  inn  chamber  seemed  like  home,  the  fire 
felt  warm,  and  the  candles  twinkled  dazzlingly. 
He  found,  too,  that  the  brown-haired  gentleman 
had  a  kind,  elder-brotherly  way  with  him,  and 
that  in  private  life  he  dispensed  with  his  drawl, 
though  his  voice  lost  none  of  its  pleasant  tone. 


56  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

"Well,  you  feel  almost  your  own  man  again 
now,  do  you  not  ?  "  his  host  queried  at  last. 

Hugh  essayed  a  smile  in  reply. 

"  Wait  an  hour  or  so  and,  if  soft  answers  still 
have  power  with  tavern  women,  we'll  have  a  good 
supper  then,  —  I  take  it  you'll  be  ready  for  it. 
And  now  it  seems  time  for  ceremonious  intro- 
ductions. My  name  is  Richard  Strangwayes." 

"  And  my  name  is  Hugh  Gwyeth.  My  father 
is  Colonel  Alan  Gwyeth  of  the  king's  army." 
Hugh  spoke  slowly  as  if  he  liked  to  linger  over 
the  words ;  it  was  the  first  time  he  had  ever 
claimed  his  father. 

"  And  you  are  bound  for  the  king's  camp  ?  " 
asked  Strangwayes,  sitting  down  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  fireplace. 

Hugh  explained  very  briefly  that  he  had  left 
home  to  join  his  father  and  had  had  a  hard  march, 
to  which  Strangwayes  listened  with  sympathetic 
eyes,  though  when  he  took  up  the  conversation 
again  his  tone  was  light.  "  We  are  headed  for  the 
same  place,  then,  Master  Gwyeth,  for  I  am  wearing 
out  my  horse  to  reach  his  Majesty's  army.  I  am 
going  to  join  my  uncle,  Sir  William  Pleydall  —  " 

Hugh  felt  he  could  have  hugged  the  man,  he 
seemed  suddenly  to  have  come  so  very  near. 
"  Why,  I  know  Sir  William,"  he  cried,  "  I  was  at 
school  with  his  son.  I've  a  letter  from  him  here." 
Pulling  out  Frank's  worn  letter  he  passed  it  to 
Strangwayes,  who  stared  at  him  an  instant,  then 
hastily  scanned  the  sheet.  When  he  handed  it 
back  Hugh  noted  a  change  in  his  manner;  he 
had  been  kind  before  with  the  kindness  of  one 
stranger  to  another,  but  now  he  seemed  to  have 


iv  TO  HORSE  AND  AWAY  57 

taken  to  himself  a  permanent  right  to  befriend 
Hugh.  He  came  across  the  hearth  and  shook 
hands  with  the  boy.  "  I'm  right  glad  we  chanced 
to  meet,  Hugh,"  he  said  warmly.  "  We'll  journey 
the  rest  of  the  way  together.  Oh,  yes,  I  can 
procure  you  a  horse." 

Hugh  ventured  some  weak  objection,  rather 
shamefacedly,  for  he  knew  he  hoped  Strang- 
wayes  would  thrust  it  aside,  and  he  felt  only 
satisfaction  when  the  young  man  did  so.  "  Leave 
you  to  come  on  alone?  Folly!  I  only  lend  you 
the  horse ;  your  father  will  settle  the  matter  with 
me.  I'll  charge  him  Jew's  interest,  if  'twill  con- 
tent you.  Do  you  think  I  mean  to  leave  my 
cousin  Frank's  comrade  to  fray  out  his  clothes 
and  his  body  along  the  road  ? " 

Afterwards,  when  they  were  eating  supper  to- 
gether and  the  maid  who  served  them  had  quitted 
the  room,  Strangwayes  suddenly  looked  up  and 
asked  quizzically,  "  You  are  well  assured  there  is 
no  Spanish  blood  in  you  ? " 

Hugh  was  quite  sure;  why  had  Master  Strang- 
wayes asked?  What  were  Spaniards  like,  any- 
way? Strangwayes  drawled  on  disjointedly  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  while  his  eyes  laughed  in  a 
provoking  way:  Spaniards  were  fierce  fighters, 
and  their  women  were  pretty,  and  they  liked  gold, 
and  they  were  proud  as  the  devil,  and  they  were 
very  cruel,  and  they  had  a  deal  of  dignity,  and  they 
grew  oranges  in  their  country.  "  Dream  it  out 
to-night,  Hugh,"  he  advised,  as  they  rose  from 
the  table ;  but  Hugh  disobeyed  flagrantly,  for  the 
instant  he  was  laid  in  a  Christian  bed  once  more 
he  was  sound  asleep. 


58  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

He  woke  in  broad  daylight,  and,  having  assured 
himself  that  the  bed  was  real,  so  Richard  Strang- 
wayes  could  not  have  been  a  dream,  dozed  con- 
tentedly again,  and  woke  with  a  start  to  rise  and 
dress  with  the  unsettled  feeling  of  one  who  has 
slept  long  enough  to  lose  count  of  time.  When 
he  went  downstairs  he  judged  by  the  sunlight 
that  flooded  the  courtyard  that  it  must  be  near 
noon,  and  his  guess  was  verified  by  the  tapster, 
who  was  vastly  more  respectful  than  he  had  been 
on  the  preceding  evening.  Those  loitering  about 
the  courtyard,  too,  eyed  him  curiously  but  no 
longer  mocked  him.  The  only  relic  of  last 
night's  dismal  scene  which  he  found  was  a  rusted 
pistol  that  lay  near  the  post  of  the  outer  gate. 
After  a  hasty  glance  about  to  make  sure  none  were 
looking,  Hugh  snatched  it  up  and,  hiding  it 
beneath  his  coat,  sauntered  nonchalantly  out  of 
the  courtyard.  Just  across  the  road  was  a  slug- 
gish muddy  ditch,  and  into  this  he  dropped  the 
pistol  that  had  once  been  Peregrine  Oldesworth's. 
Even  as  he  did  so  he  felt  a  quick  pang  of  regret, 
for  he  realized  he  had  trusted  in  the  worthless 
weapon  as  he  never  could  trust  again  in  the 
truest  sword  or  the  surest  musket. 

A  bit  saddened  and  a  bit  shamed  at  such  a 
feeling,  he  retraced  his  steps  to  the  gateway, 
where  he  came  face  to  face  with  Strangwayes, 
very  martial  indeed  with  his  big  hat  and  riding- 
boots,  who  trotted  up  on  a  long-legged  white 
horse.  By  the  bridle  he  led  a  despondent-look- 
ing gray,  which  halted  with  the  greatest  readiness, 
as  Strangwayes  reined  in  his  own  steed  and 
addressed  Hugh:  "What  do  you  think  of  this 


iv  TO  HORSE  AND   AWAY  59 

high-tempered  charger  ?  Unless  appearances  are 
arrant  liars,  he  is  the  prettiest  bit  of  horse-flesh 
within  two  league  of  here.  His  Majesty,  — 
Heaven  bless  him  and  requite  it  to  his  followers ! 

—  has   carried    away   every   well-seeming    thing 
that  goes  o'  four  legs.     Here,  sirrah  hostler,  give 
the  beasts  a  bite.     We'll  do  the  like  service  to 
ourselves,  Hugh,  and  then  the  word  is,  '  To  horse 
and  away.' " 

"  I  am  ready,"  Hugh  answered.  "  But  I  fear 
I  have  made  you  to  lose  time  —  " 

"  Time  spent  in  horse-dealing  is  never  lost," 
Strangwayes  replied  sententiously ;  "  especially 
when  the  rascal  who  owns  the  horse  has  likewise 
a  winsome  daughter.  Now  come  to  dinner." 

It  was  during  this  meal  that  a  new  care  bur- 
dened Hugh.  Now  that  he  was  no  longer  half 
starved  and  near  desperate  he  had  time  to  take 
heed  to  minor  matters,  and  he  was  keenly  aware 
of  the  holes  in  his  stockings  and  the  rents  in  his 
breeches  and  jacket.  It  seemed  Strangwayes 
had  guessed  something  of  his  thought,  for,  as  they 
rose  from  the  table,  he  spoke  out  with  a  half  em- 
barrassment: "Look  you  here,  Hugh,  I  meant 

—  to  lend  you  money  to  get  you  fresh  clothes, 
but,  faith,  the  gray  there  cost  a  penny  more  than 
I  thought,  and,  as  we've  no  wish  to  starve  again, 
methinks  you  must  be  content  to  let  your  new 
coat  ride  away  on  his  back." 

"  'Tis  no  great  matter,"  Hugh  forced  himself  to 
say.  "  If  you  be  willing  to  take  the  road  with  such 
a  vagrant-looking  fellow  as  I." 

Strangwayes  suggested,  however,  that  they  do 
what  they  could,  so  the  tapster  was  bribed  and 


60  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

the  chambermaid  cajoled,  till  out  of  the  inn  stores 
Hugh  was  furnished  with  a  cap  and  a  pair  of  boot- 
hose,  and  a  good  part  of  the  hedge  mud  was 
brushed  off  the  rest  of  his  apparel.  So  when  at 
last  he  rode  out  from  the  inn  on  the  gray  horse 
Hugh  felt  himself  a  very  passable  Cavalier,  for  his 
covered  head  greatly  increased  his  self-respect, 
and  the  boothose  in  most  hypocritical  fashion 
concealed  the  torn  stockings.  But  had  he  been 
quite  out  at  elbow  he  felt  he  would  have  shone  in 
the  borrowed  light  of  Strangwayes'  completeness, 
and  would  have  been  content  with  that  or  any- 
thing he  might  owe  to  his  new  friend. 

That  night  they  slept  within  the  borders  of 
Staffordshire,  and,  sparing  their  horses,  took  the 
road  late  next  morning  beneath  a  lowering  sky. 
They  were  headed  for  Shrewsbury,  Hugh  learned, 
whither  the  king  was  marching  by  a  northern 
road ;  they  would  keep  to  the  south,  however,  in 
the  hope  of  speedily  overtaking  a  scouting  party 
led  by  one  Butler,  an  old  friend  of  Strangwayes, 
whom  the  reports  of  tavern-keepers  placed  less 
than  four  and  twenty  hours  ahead  of  them.  If 
the  horses  held  out,  they  doubtless  would  come 
up  with  him  in  the  course  of  a  twelvemonth, 
Strangwayes  announced  dolorously,  after  a  morn- 
ing spent  in  flogging  his  beast  along  the  heavy 
road.  It  was  impossible  to  mend  the  pace,  so 
they  forgot  it  at  last  in  talk,  for  after  his  days  of 
non-intercourse  Hugh  was  but  too  happy  to  tell 
some  one  his  thoughts  and  plans ;  and  he  felt 
Strangwayes  was  as  safe  a  confessor  as  a  man 
could  have.  So  he  related  his  early  life,  much  in 
detail,  and  the  intimate  reasons  of  his  present 


iv  TO   HORSE   AND  AWAY  61 

quest,  and  all  he  knew  of  his  father.  At  that 
Strangwayes'  dark  eyebrows  went  up  amazingly 
and  came  down  in  a  twist  above  his  nose.  "  Name 
of  Heaven ! "  he  ejaculated,  turning  in  his  saddle 
to  face  Hugh,  "  do  you  mean  to  tell  me  you  are 
tracing  over  the  kingdom  after  a  father  who  has 
not  set  eyes  on  you  for  twelve  years  ?  What  think 
you  the  man  will  say  to  you  or  do  with  you  ?  " 

Hugh  paused  blankly,  assailed  with  sudden 
queer  doubts,  as  Strangwayes  thus  harked  back  to 
his  grandfather's  hints.  But  next  instant  the 
older  man  laughed  off  his  surprise  and  plunged 
headlong  into  a  tale  that  soon  ended  Hugh's  dis- 
comfort. "  Confidence  for  confidence,  Hugh. 
Would  you  hear  something  of  myself?  If  they 
ever  put  me  in  a  chap-book  they  can  say  I  was 
the  unhappy  third  son  of  a  worthy  knight  of  Lin- 
colnshire. They  put  me  to  school  at  a  tender  age, 
—  pass  over  that ;  no  doubt  you  can  guess  what  it 
means.  No,  I  did  not  run  from  school ;  mine  has 
been  a  sober  and  industrious  life,  fit  for  all  youth 
to  take  instruction  by.  When  I  was  sixteen  I 
betook  myself  to  Oxford,  for  my  father  was  too 
loyal  a  gentleman  to  trust  even  so  poor  a  piece  of 
goods  as  a  third  son  among  the  Puritans  of  Cam- 
bridge. There  at  Oxford  I  improved  my  hours 
to  best  advantage  and  learned  to  play  famously 
at  bowls,  and  would  have  become  a  past  master  at 
tennis,  had  not  the  Scots  war  broke  out.  Sir 
William  Pleydall  procured  me  a  lieutenancy —  " 

"And  you  have  been  to  war  once  already?" 
asked  Hugh,  suffering  the  gray  to  slacken  the 
pace  to  his  natural  amble.  "  Tell  me  of  your  bat- 
tles, I  pray  you,  Master  Strangwayes." 


62  HUGH  GWYETH  ca 

"  If  you'll  clip  my  title  to  Dick,"  replied  the 
other.  "  It  sounds  more  natural.  Truth  to  tell, 
I  was  in  but  one  battle,  Hugh,  and  that  was  the 
fierce  and  bloodless  battle  of  Wilterswick,  here  in 
this  same  pleasant  Staffordshire.  You  remember, 
doubtless,  when  the  king  went  against  the  Scots, 
how  loath  our  excellent  yokels  were  to  follow  after. 
Rank  Puritans,  the  most  of  the  levies  were,  and 
worked  off  their  warlike  energies  pulling  down 
communion  rails  and  hunting  parsons  out  of  their 
parishes.  We  had  a  choice  lot  of  such  spirits  in 
our  troop,  and,  to  put  a  leaven  to  the  whole  lump, 
the  captain  was  an  Irishman,  ergo,  a  Catholic. 
A  proper  black  fellow  he  was,  Dennis  Butler ;  the 
same  one  at  whose  mess-table  we  may  chance  to 
sit  to-morrow  night.  This  Butler  and  I  took  our- 
selves to  rest  one  wet  night  at  Wilterswick,  and, 
faith,  we  waked  to  the  hunt's  up  of  a  big  stone 
crashing  in  at  our  casement  and  found  our  trusty 
followers  crowding  the  street  before  the  inn,  clam- 
oring to  hang  the  captain  for  a  Papist.  At  their 
head  was  a  venomous,  two-legged  viper,  Constant- 
In-Business  Emry,  —  he  was  rightly  named,  —  a 
starveling  of  a  fellow,  —  I'd  swear  he  began  life  a 
tailor.  Butler  had  rated  him  a  day  or  two  before, 
so  he  was  in  earnest,  and,  truth,  the  rest  of  them 
looked  it.  So  Denny  Butler,  being  a  gentleman 
of  resources,  gathered  himself  into  his  clothes  and 
left  by  the  rear  door." 

"And  you?"  Hugh  cried  out,  "I  hold  your 
captain  went  like  a  coward." 

"  Nay,  nay,  we'd  agreed  to  it ;  I  knew  they'd 
not  hurt  me.  So  I  slipped  on  my  shirt  and 
breeches,  and  went  down  to  speak  unto  them. 


iv  TO   HORSE  AND   AWAY  63 

They  threw  stones  and  other  things,  and  roared 
somewhat,  but  at  last  I  made  myself  heard ;  then 
I  talked  to  them  like  a  preacher  and  a  father,  and 
tripped  up  Constant-In-Business  Emry  on  a  theo- 
logical point,  and  demonstrated  that  I  was  a  good 
Church  of  England  man,  like  all  my  ancestors 
before  me.  By  that  they  were  tolerably  subdued, 
so  I  called  for  a  Book  of  Common  Prayers  and 
read  them  morning  service,  then  down  we  all  knelt 
in  the  mud  of  the  courtyard  and  I  prayed  over 
them.  You  never  know  how  hard  you  can  pray 
till  you're  put  to  it.  By  that  Butler  was  well  away, 
so  I  went  back  to  my  chamber  and  finished  dress- 
ing. I  ruined  a  serviceable  pair  of  velvet  breeches 
kneeling  in  that  mud,  and  the  lesson  of  that  is  to 
go  rough  clad  when  you  go  to  war.  And  that  was 
the  end  of  my  military  glory,  for  the  king  struck 
a  truce  with  the  Scots,  I  lost  my  commission,  and, 
as  I  would  have  no  more  of  the  university,  my 
father  packed  me  off  to  London  to  take  chambers 
in  the  Middle  Temple.  He  held  the  Puritans 
should  not  have  a  monopoly  of  lawyers, '  fight  the 
devil  with  his  own  weapons,'  as  'twere.  But  I  con- 
fess the  only  court  I  followed  was  the  king's  court 
and  I  learned  far  more  of  dancing  and  sonneteer- 
ing than  of  the  precepts  of  worthy  Sir  Edward 
Coke.  Then  my  father,  —  Heaven  rest  him !  — 
died,  and  left  me  an  annuity.  I  have  no  liking 
for  annuities ;  they  encourage  a  man  in  the  sordid 
practice  of  living  within  his  means.  I  sold  mine 
out  of  hand,  and,  with  a  droll  streak  of  prudence, 
as  rare  as  strange,  committed  a  round  sum  to  Sir 
William  Pleydall  to  hold  in  trust  for  me,  then  set 
out  with  the  rest  to  see  the  world.  I  went  to  the 


64  HUGH  GWYETH  at 

Low  Countries  and  served  a  time  as  a  gentleman 
volunteer,  and  then  to  France,  where  I  learned 
some  handy  tricks  at  fencing." 

"  You're  a  great  swordsman  ?  "  Hugh  queried 
with  bated  breath.  "  Did  you  ever  fight  a 
duel?" 

"  On  my  honor,  yes,"  the  other  replied  with  a 
smile.  "  No  earlier  than  last  April  I  crossed  swords 
with  a  certain  Vicomte  de  Saint  Ambroix.  The 
manner  of  it  ?  Do  you  think  of  challenging  any 
one,  Master  Hugh?  Why,  monsieur  the  vicomte 
chose  to  speak  some  scurvy  untruths  of  English- 
women in  my  company,  so  I  did  but  go  up  to  him 
and  strike  him  across  the  mouth,  saying,  '  Mon- 
sieur, I  do  myself  the  honor  of  telling  you  that 
you  lie  in  your  throat.'  Which  was  a  great  waste 
of  words.  But  we  fought  and  he  was  hurt  some- 
what in  the  shoulder.  No,  I  have  no  scars,  but  I 
got  then  a  piteous  gaping  wound  in  a  crimson 
satin  doublet  of  mine,  which  has  never  healed,  as 
flesh  and  blood  heals  in  time.  That  was  the  last 
adventure,  fortunately,  for  here  comes  what  shall 
abridge  my  story."  Strangwayes  pointed  before 
him  where  the  dusky  roofs  of  a  straggling  village 
showed  among  the  wet  trees. 

"  But  how  came  you  home,  Dick  ? "  Hugh 
coaxed. 

"  Simply  told.  I  heard  there  was  work  for  men 
of  enterprise,  and  I  judged  my  loyal  uncle  would 
have  turned  my  pounds  and  shillings  into  troop- 
ers and  muskets,  and  would  gladly  give  me  a 
commission  in  exchange.  So  I  spent  what  sur- 
plus money  I  had,  —  'tis  the  surest  way  to  cheat 
thieves,  —  and  took  ship  for  King's  Lynn.  I 


iv  TO   HORSE   AND  AWAY  65 

paid  a  swift  visit  to  my  elder  brother  in  Lin- 
colnshire;  he  is  for  the  Parliament, —  Heaven 
and  my  father's  spirit  forgive  him !  So  I  mounted 
and  faced  me  westward  to  the  king,  and  here  I 
am  now,  and  here  we  are." 

The  two  horses  clinked  across  the  cobbles  of 
the  courtyard  of  the  village  inn,  a  hostler  ran  up 
officiously,  and  the  host  himself  came  puffing  out 
to  greet  the  guests.  "  Well,  friend,  what  news 
on  the  road  ? "  cried  Strangwayes,  swinging  out 
of  his  saddle.  "  Has  a  troop  of  Cavaliers  passed 
through  here  ? " 

The  host  gazed  from  one  to  the  other,  then  up 
at  the  sky,  then  back  at  the  travellers.  "  Be  you 
king's  men? "  he  finally  asked,  with  mild  curiosity. 

"Sure,  I  trust  we  all  be  honest  people,"  Strang- 
wayes answered  dryly. 

"  Well,  well,  that  may  be  as  it  may  be ;  I  say 
naught;  only  'tis  good  hap  for  you,  you  lie  in  a 
snug  haven  to-night." 

"  Why,  what  mean  you  ?  Are  there  hobgob- 
lins farther  on  ?  "  Strangwayes'  voice  dropped 
to  a  ridiculous  quaver  that  made  Hugh  smile. 

"  Worse  nor  hobgoblins,  master,"  replied  the 
host.  "  Have  ye  not  heard,  then  ?  They  do  say 
a  stout  band  of  Puritan  rogues  are  plundering 
the  country,  yonder  toward  the  west  of  us." 


CHAPTER  V 

IN   AND    OUT    OF   THE    "GOLDEN    RAM" 

THOUGH  the  dawn  of  another  day  had  broken, 
slate-colored  clouds  still  hid  the  sun  and  a  mist 
like  a  fine  rain  hung  in  the  air;  even  the  white 
horse  and  the  gray,  standing  saddled  and  ready 
in  the  inn  yard,  touched  noses  as  if  they  vowed  the 
weather  bad.  Hugh  slapped  their  flanks  and 
settled  their  damp  manes,  while  he  waited  for 
Strangwayes  to  pay  the  reckoning  to  the  mildly 
curious  host,  but  the  process  proved  so  long  that 
at  last  he  mounted  into  the  saddle  and  ambled 
slowly  out  into  the  highway.  Turning  the  gray 
horse's  nose  to  the  west  he  paced  forward,  with 
his  heart  a-jump  at  the  thought  that  yonder  in 
the  mist  before  him  real  danger  that  tested  men's 
courage  might  be  lurking. 

A  gay  clatter  of  hoofs  on  the  uneven  roadway 
made  him  turn  just  as  Strangwayes  came  abreast 
of  him.  At  once  Hugh  blurted  out  what  was 
uppermost  in  his  thoughts:  "Do  you  think,  Dick, 
the  host  spoke  true  ?  Are  there  enemies  before 
us  ?  What  think  you  ?  " 

"  I  think  there  be  two  whose  words  are  not  to 
be  over-trusted :  a  woman  when  she  will  have  a 
boon  of  you,  and  a  tavern-keeper  when  he  will 
have  you  to  tarry  in  his  lodgings." 

66 


CH.  v        IN  AND  OUT  OF  THE  "GOLDEN  RAM"      67 

"  Then  you  believe  the  host's  talk  of  Round- 
heads —  " 

"  Mere  words  to  frighten  children.  It  troubles 
me  not  the  half  as  much  as  his  showing  me  just 
now  that  Butler  must  have  borne  more  north- 
ward. Well,  let  the  Irish  rogue  go  hang!  We'll 
push  on  as  we  are  and  reach  Shrewsbury,  —  some 
day.  —  Come  up,  you  crows'  meat ! "  This  to  the 
white  horse,  whose  nose  was  at  its  knees. 

"  To-day  will  be  but  as  yesterday,  then,  without 
any  danger?"  asked  Hugh,  a  thought  relieved, 
yet  with  room  for  a  feeling  of  grievous  disappoint- 
ment at  being  cheated  of  his  looked-for  adventure. 

Strangwayes'  telltale  eyes  laughed  immoder- 
ately, though  he  kept  his  mouth  grave :  "  You'll 
have  all  the  adventures  you  need,  after  you  reach 
the  king's  army.  Still,  as  I  have  an  honest  liking 
for  you,  mayhap,  if  you're  a  good  lad,  I'll  find  you 
one  ere  we  come  thither." 

Then  they  fell  to  speaking  of  all  they  would 
do,  when  once  they  were  enrolled  among  his 
Majesty's  followers,  and,  what  with  talking  and 
urging  on  their  laggard  horses,  they  kept  them- 
selves employed  till  past  noon.  "  We'll  bait 
here,"  Strangwayes  announced,  as  rounding  a 
curve  they  got  sight  of  a  tiny  hamlet  half  con- 
cealed beneath  a  hill.  "  Then  we'll  make  a  long 
stage  this  afternoon  and  sleep  the  night  well 
within  the  borders  of  Shropshire." 

At  that  cheering  thought  they  put  the  horses 
to  their  best  pace  and  clattered  through  the  vil- 
lage street  quite  gallantly,  though  there  were  none 
to  admire  them,  save  a  flock  of  geese,  and  a  fool- 
ish-looking girl,  who  seemed  the  whole  population 


68  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

of  the  little  place.  Thus  they  came  to  the  farther 
end  of  the  hamlet,  where,  a  bit  retired  from  the 
neighboring  cottages,  stood  a  shabby  inn,  before 
which  hung  a  sign-board  bearing  a  faded  yellow 
sheep.  "  Golden  Ram  ! "  Strangwayes  translated 
it.  "  Mutton  would  suit  me  as  well !  " 

They  rattled  into  the  little  inn  yard,  ducking 
down  in  their  saddles  to  save  their  heads  from 
the  bar  across  the  low  gateway,  and  drew  rein 
just  in  time  to  avoid  riding  down  a  flurried  serv- 
ing-maid. Strangwayes  almost  fell  out  of  his 
saddle,  so  promptly  he  dismounted  to  reassure 
her.  "  You're  not  harmed,  my  lass  ?  "  he  asked 
anxiously,  slipping  one  arm  about  her  as  if  he 
expected  her  to  faint,  though,  from  her  fine  fresh 
color,  that  did  not  seem  likely.  Hugh  had  already 
seen  something  of  his  friend's  civilities  to  bar- 
maids, so  he  kept  to  his  saddle  and  felt  rather 
foolish,  when  suddenly  the  host,  a  scrawny  man 
with  a  lantern  face,  appeared  in  the  doorway. 
At  sight  of  him  Strangwayes,  in  his  turn,  looked 
a  bit  foolish,  and  stepping  away  from  the  maid 
began  briskly,  "  Well,  friend,  what  can  you  give 
us  to  dinner  ? "  There  he  paused  dumfounded, 
and  stared,  then  cried  out :  "  Heaven  keep  us ! 
If  it  be  not  my  constant  friend  Emry,  as  busy  as 
ever !  Verily,  'tis  a  true  saying  that  the  Lord 
will  not  see  the  righteous  forsaken." 

"  Lieutenant  Strangwayes  was  always  a  merry 
gentleman,"  Constant-In-Business  Emry  replied, 
with  a  rather  dubious  countenance. 

"  Tut,  tut !  You're  all  mistaken,  my  man.  I 
abominate  merriment  as  much  as  I  do  ale. 
Which  calls  it  to  my  mind  I  am  uncommon  dry 


v        IN  AND   OUT  OF  THE  "GOLDEN   RAM"      69 

and  thirsty.  Jump  down,  Hugh.  We'll  have 
experience  of  a  Puritan  tavern." 

"  Ay,  men  must  eat,"  sighed  Emry.  "  Though 
my  calling  may  smack  of  the  carnal  taint,  yet  'tis 
not  all  ungodly,  since  —  " 

"  Don't  trouble  yourself  for  that,"  Strangwayes 
replied.  "  Faith,  I  never  thought  to  surprise  you 
in  so  honest  a  calling." 

With  that  he  led  the  way  into  the  inn,  where 
he  and  Hugh  dined  together  in  an  upper  chamber. 
The  food  was  none  of  the  best,  Hugh  privately 
thought,  but  Strangwayes  praised  it  mightily  to 
the  maid  who  served  them,  the  same  they  had 
encountered  in  the  courtyard.  She  was  a  step- 
daughter of  Emry,  who  had  married  her  mother, 
the  now  deceased  hostess  of  the  "  Golden  Ram," 
so  she  told  Strangwayes,  and  added  much  more 
touching  Emry,  who  seemed  the  same  old  Puritan 
malcontent  of  Wilterswick.  Soon  the  talk  turned 
from  him  to  gayer  matters,  for  the  girl  was  fresh- 
faced  and  black- eyed,  so  Strangwayes  gave  more 
heed  to  her  than  to  his  meat  and  drink.  Hugh, 
feeling  more  foolish  and  out  of  place  than  ever, 
choked  down  his  food  quickly,  then  left  the  room, 
and,  as  he  closed  the  door,  heard  a  suppressed 
squeak  :  "  Don't  'ee,  sir.  An  thou  kiss  me  again 
I'll  scream." 

Hugh  stamped  downstairs  and  stood  glowering 
out  into  the  courtyard,  where  the  mist  was  now 
dribbling  down  in  a  slow  rain.  He  watched  the 
grayish  streaks  it  made  across  the  black  openings 
of  the  sheds  opposite  the  inn  porch,  and  athwart 
the  gaping  door  of  the  stable  at  his  right.  A 
wretched  chilly  day  it  was,  and  —  why  need  Dick 


70  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Strangwayes  play  the  fool  because  a  wench  had 
red  cheeks  ?  When  he  heard  his  friend's  step  he 
did  not  even  turn  his  head,  and  then  Strangwayes 
came  up  alongside  him,  and  clapping  one  arm 
about  his  shoulders  said  in  a  low  tone,  "  Jealous 
of  a  tavern  maid,  or  I'll  hang  myself !  "  Then  he 
walked  off  laughing  and  disappeared  into  the 
stable. 

But  when  Strangwayes  came  out  again  some 
time  later  the  laughter  had  gone  from  his  face, 
and  in  its  stead  was  a  troubled,  angry  look  that 
made  Hugh  forget  his  petty  vexation  and  run 
down  from  the  porch  to  meet  him.  "  What  has 
happened,  Dick  ?  "  he  begged. 

"  Why,  nothing,"  replied  Strangwayes,  and  took 
hold  of  his  arm,  so  they  paced  up  and  down  the 
courtyard  together,  "  and  yet  everything  is  amiss. 
The  white  horse  has  gone  lame." 

"  Is  that  all  ?  " 

"  Enough.  Unless  you  fancy  walking  ten  miles 
through  the  mud  and  rain  to  the  next  village.  I 
do  not." 

"  You  can  ride  my  horse.  That  is,  he's  yours, 
of  course." 

"  Or  you  might  carry  me,"  Strangwayes  an- 
swered soberly.  "  No,  Hugh,  neither  you  nor  I 
will  walk  that  ten  miles  nor  the  half  of  it,  drag- 
ging a  hobbled  horse  behind  us." 

"Well,  at  worst,"  Hugh  tried  to  speak  cheer- 
fully, "  we  shall  but  lose  a  few  hours." 

"Ay,  is  that  all?  Tell  me  this,  Hugh:  why 
did  a  sound  horse  go  lame  in  the  mere  course  of 
dinner? " 

"  Then    it's    possible    'twas    done   with    fore- 


v        IN   AND  OUT  OF  THE  "GOLDEN   RAM"       71 

thought  ? "  Hugh  cried.  "  Perchance  they 
mean  —  " 

"  Hush,  hush,  you  fire-eater!"  Strangwayes  in- 
terrupted hastily.  "  If  'twas  the  inn  people  lamed 
the  horse  they  did  it  only  to  stay  us  here,  that 
they  might  profit  by  our  tarrying.  Or  to  hinder 
us  in  our  journey,  for  this  knave  Emry  has  no 
love  unto  me." 

Yet  Strangwayes,  Hugh  took  note  when  they 
returned  to  the  house,  was  merry  as  ever  in  his 
talk  with  the  lean-visaged  Emry.  He  ordered  a 
chamber  for  the  night,  and  then,  free  to  go  and 
come  as  he  pleased,  went  sauntering  into  every 
corner  of  the  hostelry,  from  the  common  room  to 
the  sheds  and  stable.  About  twilight  the  journey 
ended  in  the  kitchen,  where,  finding  Emry's  step- 
daughter at  work,  Strangwayes  seated  himself  on 
a  table  and  entered  into  ardent  conversation  with 
her  about  butter-making. 

Left  to  himself,  Hugh  sat  down  on  the  settle 
and,  poking  the  fire  vigorously,  watched  the  em- 
bers die  down  and  then  flare  up  again,  while  the 
light  waned  or  reddened  throughout  the  room. 
Bits  of  the  smoky  ceiling  and  black  walls  started 
into  sudden  radiance,  or  the  fire  gleam  was  given 
back  by  a  copper  kettle  or  pewter  plate,  and  once 
the  sudden  blaze  lit  up  the  two  who  were  by  the 
table.  Strangwayes'  face  was  half  shadowed  by 
his  long  hair,  so  only  his  clean-cut  chin  and  confi- 
dent mouth  showed  vividly ;  but  the  girl's  face, 
with  drooping  eyelids  and  sober  lips  that  now 
were  silent,  was  very  clear  to  see. 

Hugh  turned  once  more  to  the  embers  and  paid 
the  others  no  further  heed,  till  Strangwayes  came 


72  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

to  his  side  with  the  noisy  announcement  that,  the 
kitchen  being  a  very  delectable  place,  they  would 
eat  supper  there.  So  the  maid  lit  candles  and 
fetched  them  food,  though  she  kept  silent,  even  to 
Strangwayes'  gayest  nonsense.  At  the  last  she 
brought  wine,  as  he  bade,  and  filling  a  glass  held 
it  out  to  him.  Hugh,  glancing  up,  left  eating  to 
stare  at  the  girl's  white  face,  and  Strangwayes  of 
a  sudden  caught  hold  of  her  arm.  "  What's  wrong 
with  you,  wench  ? "  he  asked  abruptly. 

At  that  the  wine  went  slopping  to  the  floor. 
"  Don't  'ee  tell,  sir,"  the  girl  murmured,  under 
her  breath,  "father'd  kill  me,  if  he  knew.  But 
there  be  Roundhead  troopers,  —  they  come  hither 
to-night." 

A  side  glance  from  Strangwayes  checked  the 
exclamation  that  was  on  the  tip  of  Hugh's  tongue. 
The  girl  went  on  softly :  "  Father  said :  '  He  is  a 
swaggering  child  of  Satan,  this  Papist  Strang- 
wayes. A  shall  not  go  out  of  the  "  Golden 
Ram "  till  he  goes  strapped  to  another  man's 
saddle-bow.' " 

Strangwayes'  nostrils  contracted,  but  he  said 
nothing,  merely  whistled  between  his  teeth.  "  A 
merry  fellow  your  father  is,"  he  broke  silence  at 
length ;  "  he  does  not  deserve  to  have  so  good  a 
lass  for  his  daughter.  Here's  a  half-crown  to  pay 
for  the  good  wine  your  floor  will  scarce  appreci- 
ate, and  here's  a  kiss  for  yourself.  And  prithee 
fetch  me  more  drink." 

As  the  girl  turned  away,  Hugh,  for  all  his  hot 
excitement,  found  wit  enough  to  say  softly :  "  For 
the  host's  talk  of  Roundheads  'twas  mere  words 
to  frighten  children." 


v        IN  AND  OUT  OF    THE  "GOLDEN  RAM"      73 

"  My  boy,"  Strangwayes  replied,  "  if  you  do  not 
hold  your  tongue  as  to  that,  I'll  put  you  on  the 
sound  horse  and  pack  you  off  to  the  next  village." 
Then  his  face  turned  cheery  as  ever,  as  the  maid 
came  back  with  the  glass  of  wine,  which  he  sipped 
slowly,  questioning  her  softly  meantime :  "  What 
hour  will  these  people  come,  do  you  know  ? " 

"  About  mid-evening,  I  heard  father  say." 

"  How  many?" 

"  Only  five  or  six.  A  grand  officer  and  some 
common  men.  They  were  here  yesternight  and 
before  that." 

"  Are  there  any  men  in  the  inn  save  your 
worthy,  busy  father  and  his  groom  ?  " 

"  No  others.  But  they  are  keeping  watch  of 
the  inn  gate  and  the  stairs  to  the  upper  story." 

Strangwayes  drained  off  the  last  of  the  wine, 
then  rose.  "  Tell  me  one  thing,"  he  asked,  "  is 
there  any  way  from  the  upper  floor  into  the 
stable  ? " 

"  Through  the  loft  above  the  kitchen." 

"  It  may  chance  your  father  and  his  man  will 
be  here  in  the  kitchen  the  next  hour;  then,  if 
you  love  me,  lass,  keep  up  a  great  clattering  of 
your  pans.  Here,  Hugh,  take  a  brace  of  candles 
and  off  with  you  to  bed." 

Hugh  went  slowly  into  the  common  room, 
where  sat  Emry,  to  all  appearances  wrapped  in 
pious  meditations,  and  passed  firmly  up  the  stairs. 
How  the  little  flames  of  the  candles  flickered,  he 
observed,  and  how  light  and  eager  he  felt;  yet 
there  was  a  kind  of  foolish  trembling  in  his 
knees. 

Scarcely  within  the  chamber  Strangwayes  re- 


74  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

joined  him.  "  Are  you  satisfied  with  this  brave 
adventure,  my  man  ?  "  was  his  greeting. 

Hugh  nodded.  "  I  know  you'll  bring  us  through 
safe,  Dick." 

"  Humph !  To  do  that  we  need  but  to  slip  out 
at  a  window  of  the  inn.  I've  a  better  plan,  Hugh, 
if  you'll  come  in  with  me.  We  cannot  bear  off 
our  noble  white  steed  and  our  fleet  gray,  for  to 
ride  hence  is  the  surest  means  to  fall  foul  of  these 
Roundheads.  Then  say  we  lurk  here  and,  turn  and 
turn  about,  possess  ourselves  of  two  of  their  horses." 

"  That's  your  plan  ?  "  Hugh  repeated  amazedly. 
"  Why,  yes,  of  course  I'll  follow,  if  you  bid.  But 
you  must  tell  me  what  to  do." 

"  First,  here  are  the  brace  of  pistols  from  my 
holsters,"  Strangwayes  answered;  "you  are  to  take 
one  of  them.  I  grieve  I  cannot  make  two  of  my 
rapier,  but  'tis  impossible.  Now,  note  you,  we  go 
to  bed  — " 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  Hugh  cried. 

"  No,  no,  no,  don't  pull  off  your  coat  yet.  To 
the  mind  of  Constant-in-the-Devil's-Work  Emry 
we  take  ourselves  to  bed,  for  we  blow  out  our 
candles,  save  this  one,  which  I  cut  down  till  it 
will  burn  not  above  half  an  hour.  And  I  set  it 
where  the  light  will  smite  through  the  window. 
Now  tread  softly  and  follow  me." 

Outside  the  chamber  the  corridor  was  very 
dark  and  still,  so  that  the  least  creak  of  a  board 
was  appallingly  loud,  but  there  was  no  other 
noise,  save  the  faint  sound  of  a  girl's  singing  in 
the  kitchen  below.  Down  the  corridor  they 
passed  what  seemed  immeasurable  lengths,  till 
Hugh's  knees  ached  with  the  slow  step,  step,  to  a 


v        IN   AND   OUT  OF  THE  "GOLDEN   RAM"       75 

point  where  he  felt  for  sheer  nervousness  he  must 
stamp  or  shout  or  do  something  foolish.  Then 
he  heard  the  faint  squeak  of  a  door,  as  Strang- 
wayes,  a  black  figure  in  the  dusk,  swung  it  gently 
ajar,  and  he  stepped  cautiously  into  a  loft,  where 
a  square  of  fainter  darkness  at  the  left  showed  a 
window  was  cut.  After  a  moment  he  found  it 
lighter  here  than  in  the  corridor,  so,  groping  with 
more  confidence,  he  was  presently  at  Strang- 
wayes'  heels.  Right  below  he  heard  the  muffled 
voice  still  singing  words  that  were  undistinguish- 
able.  "  That's  a  rare  wench,"  Strangwayes  just 
breathed.  "  And  here's  the  hole  into  the  stable 
loft.  Count  sixty  ere  you  follow,  or  you'll  be  put- 
ting your  heels  through  my  skull." 

A  long  sixty  it  was,  but  Hugh  counted  ten 
more  to  be  certain,  then,  crawling  through  a  low 
window  that  bruised  his  head,  hung  an  instant 
by  his  hands,  while  he  wondered  how  far  it  was  to 
fall.  Just  there  Strangwayes  put  his  arms  about 
him  and  rolled  him  over  into  a  pile  of  hay. 
"  Not  above  a  foot  to  drop,  Hugh,"  he  whispered, 
with  a  suppressed  chuckle,  "  but  an  inch  is  as  bad 
as  a  mile  in  the  dark.  For  the  rest  of  the  way  I 
am  sure ;  I  used  my  eyes  this  afternoon." 

They  quickly  slid  down  from  the  hay-loft  to  the 
floor  of  the  barn,  and  as  they  went  Hugh  found 
time,  perilous  though  the  moment  was,  to  feel 
half  shamed  that  Strangwayes  was  taking  such 
care  of  him,  as  if  he  were  a  little  boy.  The 
lighter  square  of  the  opening  guided  them  to  the 
stable  door,  where  Strangwayes  caught  Hugh's 
arm.  "  Briskly  now ;  they  may  be  spying  from 
the  gate.  But  softly." 


76  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Hugh  fairly  held  his  breath  in  the  three  quick 
paces  across  the  corner  of  the  courtyard  till  he 
found  the  grateful,  pitchy  darkness  of  a  shed 
around  him.  He  smelt  the  freshness  of  new  lit- 
ter, heard  it  rustle  about  his  ankles,  and  then 
Strangwayes  pulled  him  down  beside  him  amidst 
trusses  of  straw.  "  You  understand,  Hugh,"  he 
whispered,  "  if  we  stayed  in  the  stable  these 
knaves  of  troopers  might  mistake  us  for  hay, 
when  they  came  to  feed  their  horses,  and  the 
mistake  would  grieve  us  all.  Now  here  in  the 
shed  we  can  lie  close  till  they  leave  the  stable 
under  guard  of  a  man  or  two,  and  then  we  will 
follow  the  fundamental  maxim  of  warfare  and 
supply  ourselves  from  the  enemy.  Unless  they 
come  first  to  rouse  us  in  our  beds.  Look  you, 
Hugh,  yonder,  that  little  light,  is  our  chamber. 
There,  it  has  gone  out,"  he  added  presently. 
"  Now,  when  next  we  see  a  light  in  that  room, 
we'll  know  they  have  gone  thither  and  discovered 
our  removal,  and  we  must  be  up  and  doing." 

Then  for  a  long  time  there  was  silence  betwixt 
them,  while  Hugh  thought  of  many  things  and 
felt  the  brave  pistol  under  his  coat.  He  tried  to 
make  out  a  single  star  in  the  misty  night  that 
was  around  them,  and  he  strained  his  ears  with 
listening  for  hoof-beats,  till  he  wearied  of  it  and 
put  his  head  down  on  his  arms.  Presently 
Strangwayes  took  him  in  the  ribs  with  his  elbow. 
"  Hugh,"  he  whispered  in  an  odd,  half-jesting 
voice,  "  have  you  courage  ?  " 

"  In  truth,  I  was  wondering,"  Hugh  blurted 
out.  Strangwayes  put  his  arm  about  him  as 
they  lay,  and  once  more  many  moments  ran  by. 


v        IN  AND  OUT  OF  THE   "GOLDEN   RAM"       77 

Then  suddenly  Strangwayes  whispered  sharply, 
"Hark!" 

Hugh  raised  his  head,  and  he,  too,  caught,  far 
off  upon  the  highway,  the  thud,  thud  of  swiftly 
approaching  horses,  that  slackened  in  speed  but 
grew  louder  and  louder.  He  felt  his  heart 
thump  shamefully,  and,  reaching  out  his  hand, 
griped  Strangwayes'  coat.  Then  the  hoofs 
sounded  right  upon  them,  and  there  came  shouts 
of  men  and  the  clatter  of  horses  across  the  inn 
yard.  Through  the  misty  darkness  shone  a  sud- 
den light,  against  which  Hugh  could  see  outlined 
the  top  of  the  straw-pile.  He  saw,  too,  Strang- 
wayes, with  his  bare  head  uplifted,  peer  out 
through  an  armful  of  the  loose  straw  he  held 
up  before  him,  and  he  heard  him  whisper :  "  Six 
men,  Hugh.  Two  are  officers,  I  judge.  One 
of  them  has  passed  into  the  inn.  The  rest  are 
heading  into  the  stable." 

Hugh  pulled  himself  up  on  his  knees  and  gazed 
out.  There  were  torches  in  the  inn  yard  that 
made  a  half  circle  of  light  about  the  stable  door, 
but  left  the  rest  black  as  ever.  Men  were  lead- 
ing horses  into  the  stable,  and  calling  and  swear- 
ing to  each  other,  so  they  could  be  heard  even 
after  the  great  door  swallowed  them  up.  The 
house  itself  was  silent  as  before,  but  a  moment 
later,  and,  even  as  he  gazed,  from  the  farther  win- 
dow in  the  upper  story  a  faint  light  streamed  out. 
"  Curse  them  !  They  need  not  have  gone  prowl- 
ing so  soon,"  Strangwayes  rapped  out  between 
his  teeth.  "  We  must  make  a  dash  for  it.  They 
are  only  five  against  two." 

Both  were  now  on  their  feet  among  the  straw, 


78  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

and  Strangwayes  had  made  a  step  to  the  opening 
of  the  shed,  when  Hugh  caught  his  arm.  "  Wait, 
wait,  Dick,"  he  panted,  the  words  instinctively 
saying  themselves,  "  that's  but  a  small  chance. 
Nay,  I  am  not  afraid ;  'tis  only  I  have  a  better 
way.  With  my  ragged  clothes, —  I'll  slip  my 
cap  under  my  jacket,  —  they'll  think  me  a  stable- 
boy.  Let  me  go  first  into  the  stable.  Perhaps 
I  can  get  a  couple  of  horses  out  into  the  court. 
Yes,  I  am  going." 

Strangwayes  gave  a  glance  at  the  lighted  win- 
dow. "  If  you're  beset,  call.  God  speed ! "  he 
whispered,  and  Hugh  ran  out  from  the  shed. 

For  a  moment  his  eyes  were  dazzled  with  the 
sudden  light  about  him,  then  he  blinked  it  away 
and  went  forward.  He  seemed  scarcely  to  feel 
the  solid  ground  beneath  him,  nor  to  hear  his 
own  step,  for  the  pounding  of  the  blood  in  his 
temples.  Yet  there  was  no  fear  nor  any  feeling 
within  him,  only  he  saw  the  opened  door  to  the 
lighted  stable,  and  he  stepped  in  boldly. 

There  he  halted  and  of  a  sudden  griped  at  the 
side  of  the  door  to  hold  himself  erect.  For  just 
before  him,  saddled,  bridled,  and  all,  stood  two 
horses,  a  black  and  a  bay,  which  he  had  last 
caressed  in  the  stable  of  Everscombe  Manor. 
Beside  the  bay  loitered  a  stalwart  young  officer, 
who  at  his  step  glanced  up  and  showed  the  face 
of  Peregrine  Oldesworth.  "Hugh!"  he  cried 
amazedly,  and  the  troopers,  unsaddling  the 
horses  at  the  farther  end  of  the  stable,  looked  up 
at  the  cry. 

Hugh  felt  his  nerves  tingle,  but  with  a  calm- 
ness that  seemed  no  part  of  him  he  walked  into 


v        IN  AND   OUT  OF  THE   "GOLDEN   RAM"       79 

the  stable.  "  Good  even,  Cousin  Peregrine,"  he 
said  quietly,  though  his  voice  shook  a  trifle. 
"  May  I  lead  out  the  horses  to  water  ? "  His 
hands  closed  on  the  reins  of  the  bay  and  the 
black. 

"What  are  you  doing  here?"  Peregrine  asked 
astonishedly. 

"  What  I  can,"  Hugh  replied,  with  growing 
confidence. 

"  You've  come  down  in  the  world,  Master  Run- 
away," said  Peregrine,  and  by  his  look  Hugh 
knew  he  was  not  sorry  that  his  proud  cousin 
should  groom  his  horse.  That  triumphant  look 
strengthening  him  mightily,  he  deliberately  faced 
the  horses  about  and  led  them  the  few  steps  to 
the  door.  "  I'm  down,  Cousin  Peregrine,"  he  said, 
with  a  quick  laugh,  "  but  maybe  I'll  be  up  in  the 
saddle  again." 

"  What  are  you  about  with  the  horses  ?  "  Pere- 
grine cried,  with  a  first  realization  that  all  was 
not  well.  "  Halt,  there  !  " 

For  answer  Hugh  gave  a  cry  of  "  Dick  !  "  and 
jerking  at  the  bits  brought  the  two  horses  into 
the  courtyard  on  the  run.  The  beasts  were 
plunging  and  wrenching  at  their  bridles,  behind 
him  he  heard  the  stamp  of  men  rushing  across 
the  stable, —  all  in  a  second, —  then  a  dark  figure 
had  sprung  out  from  the  shelter  of  the  shed. 
"  Look  to  yourself,  Hugh  !  "  Strangwayes  shouted, 
and  helter-skelter  Hugh  made  a  spring  for  the 
back  of  the  bay  horse.  He  got  the  reins  in  his 
hand  anyhow  and  his  leg  across  the  saddle,  then, 
griping  the  pommel  and  the  horse's  mane,  clung 
for  his  life  as  the  frightened  animal  dashed  for 


8o  HUGH  GWYETH  CH.  v 

the  gate.  Men  were  shouting  and  running,  he 
heard  the  thud  of  another  horse  behind  him,  the 
crack  of  a  pistol,  then,  as  he  galloped  past  the 
inn,  a  casement  suddenly  swung  open.  A  bar  of 
light  dazzled  in  his  eyes,  and  for  the  fraction  of 
an  instant  he  saw  the  face  of  Thomas  Oldesworth, 
as  he  leaned  out,  pistol  in  hand.  He  heard  the 
report  of  the  shot,  and  then  he  flung  himself  for- 
ward in  the  saddle  to  save  his  head  from  the  bar 
at  the  gate. 

Now  he  was  out  on  the  highway,  the  bay  plung- 
ing and  leaping  beneath  him,  and  groping  wildly 
he  got  one  foot  into  the  stirrup.  Just  then  the 
black  horse  with  its  bareheaded  rider  came 
abreast  of  him,  passed  him,  and  Hugh  galloped 
blindly  at  its  heels.  Well  in  the  rear  he  heard 
the  beat  of  other  horse-hoofs,  but  he  had  both 
feet  in  the  stirrups  now  and  the  reins  in  his 
hands,  so  he  turned  boldly  into  the  fields  behind 
the  black  horse.  There  was  a  dark  wall,  he 
remembered,  that  he  jumped  recklessly,  and  a 
stretch  of  rough  ground,  where  he  must  hold 
his  reins  taut.  There  the  black  slackened  pace 
somewhat  and  Hugh  galloped  up  breathless. 
"  We'll  give  them  the  slip  yet,  will  we  not  ? "  he 
cried,  and  then  he  heard  Strangwayes  breathing 
in  quick  painful  gasps,  and  saw  he  sat  drooping 
forward  in  his  saddle.  "  Dick,  Dick,"  he  almost 
screamed,  "  sure,  you're  not  —  " 

"  Ay,"  Strangwayes  panted,  "  I'm  hit." 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE   END    OF   THE   JOURNEY 

FOR  perhaps  an  hour  the  black  and  the  bay 
crashed  at  a  fierce  pace  across  the  dark  country- 
side. Hugh  had  afterwards  a  confused  remem- 
brance of  thickets  where  he  must  bend  his  head 
to  escape  the  swishing  boughs,  of  a  ford  where 
the  water  flew  high  as  the  girths,  of  a  cluster  of 
cottages,  black  and  silent  in  the  night.  Cleared 
land  and  highway  sped  by  him  hazily,  but  always 
he  had  the  mist  in  his  face,  faint  hoof-notes  that 
ever  grew  fainter  behind  him,  and  just  before  him 
the  black  horse  with  the  piteously  slouching  figure 
in  the  saddle.  Once  and  again  Hugh  had  cried 
out  to  him :  How  grievously  was  he  hurt  ?  Could 
not  he  stay  to  look  to  it?  Each  time  the  terse 
reply  had  come :  "  'Tis  nothing.  Ride  on." 

But  the  pursuing  horses  were  at  last  no  longer 
audible ;  moment  after  moment  passed,  and  still 
no  sound  reached  them  but  the  echo  of  their  own 
gallop.  Slowly  the  black's  pace  sobered  to  a  trot, 
and  Hugh  rode  up  knee  to  knee  with  his  friend. 
"  Dick,  'tis  not  mortal  ?  Tell  me,"  he  entreated. 

" '  Not  as  wide  as  the  church  door,'  as  saith  the 
gentleman  in  the  play,"  Strangwayes  replied,  but 
for  all  his  gay  tone  Hugh  caught  in  his  voice  a 
strained  note  that  frightened  him ;  "  a  mere  pistol 

G  8l 


82  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

wound.  That  knave  in  the  window  gave't  me. 
Why  did  you  not  shoot  him  down  ? " 

"  'Twas  my  uncle,"  Hugh  replied. 

"  A  sweet  family  you  belong  to,  then,"  Strang- 
wayes  muttered. 

"  I  would  it  had  been  me  he  shot.  If  he  has 
killed  you  —  "  Hugh  gulped  out. 

"  Nonsense  !  "  Strangwayes  answered  testily. 
"  Ride  on,  and  trouble  me  with  no  more  such 
talk." 

For  another  long  space  they  rode  in  silence, 
Strangwayes  with  his  head  sunk  on  his  chest  and 
his  left  arm  motionless.  Hugh  pressed  close  to 
him,  lest  he  fall  from  his  saddle,  but  he  did  not 
venture  to  trouble  him  with  further  speech.  Thus 
the  breaking  day  came  upon  them,  as  they  trotted 
through  a  bit  of  wet  woodland,  and  Hugh  at  last 
could  see  his  comrade's  white  face,  that  looked 
gray  in  the  uncertain  light,  and  thought  to  make 
out  a  dark  splotch  upon  the  back  of  his  coat.  At 
the  farther  verge  of  the  wood,  where  a  small  brook, 
flowing  across  the  road,  broadened  into  a  pool  on 
the  right,  Strangwayes  reined  in  his  horse  with 
two  or  three  one-handed  jerks  at  the  bridle. 
"  You'll  have  to  try  your  'prentice  hand  at  sur- 
gery," he  said,  as  Hugh  sprang  down  from  the 
bay ;  "  adventures  do  often  entail  such  post- 
scripts." 

"  Do  not  make  a  jest  of  it,"  Hugh  answered 
chokedly,  and  putting  his  arm  about  Strangwayes 
helped  him  to  climb  from  the  saddle  and  to  seat 
himself  on  the  brink  of  the  pool.  He  still  kept 
his  arm  about  his  friend,  and  now,  feeling  some- 
thing damp  against  his  sleeve,  he  looked  closer 


vi  THE   END  OF  THE  JOURNEY  83 

and  found  the  back  of  Strangwayes'  coat  was  all 
wet  and  warm.  "  'Tis  here  you're  wounded  ?  "  he 
cried. 

"  Yes,  in  the  back,"  the  other  replied,  with 
a  half-suppressed  groan.  "  A  brave  place  for  a 
gentleman  to  take  his  first  hurt !  Draw  my  coat 
off,  gently.  Now  take  my  knife  and  rip  off  my 
shirt.  'Twill  serve  for  bandages." 

Somehow  Hugh  mastered  the  nervous  trem- 
bling in  his  fingers  sufficiently  to  cut  away  the  shirt, 
upon  which  the  broad  stain  of  red  showed  with 
sickening  clearness.  Beneath,  Strangwayes'  back 
was  slimy  with  blood,  and  the  dark  drops  were  ooz- 
ing from  a  jagged  wound  in  the  fleshy  part  of  the 
left  shoulder.  Strangwayes,  who  was  sitting  with 
his  full  weight  thrown  upon  his  right  arm,  never 
uttered  sound  nor  winced,  but  Hugh  sank  down 
on  his  knees,  and  for  a  moment  felt  too  faint  to 
do  more  than  support  his  friend  with  his  arm. 

"  *  O  dinna  ye  see  the  red  heart's  blood 
Run  trickling  down  my  knee,'  " 

Strangwayes  half  hummed,  and  turned  his  head 
to  look  at  Hugh.  His  brows  were  puckered  with 
pain,  but  there  was  the  ghost  of  a  smile  on  his 
lips  as  he  drawled,  "  Why,  Hughie,  man,  me- 
thinks  I  be  the  one  to  feel  sick,  not  you." 

Thereat  Hugh  set  his  teeth,  and,  shamed  into 
strength  by  the  other's  courage,  dipped  half  the 
cut  shirt  into  the  brook  and  washed  the  wound, 
tenderly  as  he  was  able,  then  made  shift  to  band- 
age it,  as  Strangwayes  directed.  "  Well,  I'm  still 
wearing  a  shirt,"  the  latter  said,  as  Hugh  care- 


84  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

fully  helped  him  into  his  coat,  "but  'tis  not  in 
the  usual  way.  You  must  fasten  my  coat  up  to 
my  chin,  Hugh,  and  pray  none  note  my  lack 
of  linen,  nor  the  bullet-hole  in  the  back.  What 
a  place  to  be  wounded !  " 

The  rim  of  the  sun  was  just  showing  above  the 
eastern  trees  when  they  started  to  horse  once 
more.  Strangwayes,  leaning  heavily  on  Hugh, 
managed  to  climb  into  his  saddle,  and  then  he 
let  his  hand  rest  a  moment  on  the  boy's  shoul- 
der, while  he  looked  down  at  him.  "  So  you  are 
troubled  for  me  ?  "  he  asked  dryly. 

"  More  than  I  would  be  for  any  man,  unless 
'twere  my  father." 

"  You're  a  brave  lad,  Hugh,"  Strangwayes  said 
irrelevantly.  "  I  would  fain  hug  you,  if  I  would 
not  topple  out  of  my  saddle  if  I  tried.  I  thank 
Heaven  'twas  not  you  got  hurt  by  my  fool's  trick 
last  night."  Then  he  put  his  horse  slowly  for- 
ward, so  Hugh  mounted  the  bay  and  came  after. 

They  went  at  a  gentler  pace  now,  by  the  high- 
way or  by  short  cuts  through  the  fields,  for  Strang- 
wayes knew  this  country  well,  he  explained,  from 
his  old  experience  in  the  king's  army.  He  kept 
a  little  in  advance,  one  hand  on  the  bridle  rein, 
the  other  arm  limp,  and  his  whole  body  stooping 
a  trifle  forward.  Hugh  realized  with  a  helpless 
pang  that  his  friend  was  suffering,  he  dared  not 
think  how  much,  nor  how  it  might  end,  yet  he 
was  powerless  to  aid  him.  Once,  when  they  rode 
through  a  village  where  the  people  were  astir 
about  their  morning  business,  he  begged  Strang- 
wayes to  stop  and  have  his  wound  looked  to,  at 
least  have  drink  to  strengthen  him.  But  the 


vi  THE  END   OF  THE  JOURNEY  85 

other  shook  his  head,  then  spoke  with  pauses 
between  phrases :  "  They'd  not  succor  me  for 
love,  Hugh;  we  are  not  strong  enough  to  force 
them ;  and  for  the  rest,  I've  not  a  shilling  to 
soften  them." 

"How?" 

"  What  I  had  was  none  too  much  to  give  that 
maid  for  the  saving  of  our  liberty,  perchance  our 
lives.  At  least,  I  rate  my  life  thus  high." 

"  And  that  I  could  be  angry  with  you  for  such 
a  matter  as  fooling  with  her!"  Hugh  broke  out 
penitently. 

"  Tis  for  a  man's  advantage  to  be  friendly  with 
all  women,"  Strangwayes  answered  in  a  matter- 
of-fact  tone.  "  Had  I  sulked  in  her  presence, 
like  some  haughty  gentlemen  I  know  of,  we'd  be 
tramping  the  road  to  a  rebel  prison  now,  Hugh. 
That  knave  Emry !  I  contrived  to  reach  him  a 
crack  on  the  head  with  the  butt  of  my  pistol  as  I 
rode  out,  he'll  remember  some  days." 

But  after  that  one  burst  of  everyday  speech 
Strangwayes  lapsed  again  into  silence,  with  so 
slack  a  hold  on  the  reins  that  Hugh,  coming  close 
alongside,  ventured  now  and  then  to  put  hand  to 
the  bit  and  guide  the  black  horse.  Lines  of  pain 
were  deepening  in  the  wounded  man's  brows  and 
about  his  white  lips,  and  once,  as  they  descended 
a  steep  pitch  abruptly,  he  only  half  stifled  a  groan. 

So  when  they  reached  the  next  village  Hugh 
took  matters  into  his  own  hands  by  pulling  up 
both  horses  before  a  wayside  tavern.  "  What's 
to  do  ?  "  Strangwayes  asked  listlessly. 

"  I  am  going  to  get  you  drink,"  Hugh  answered, 
and  jumping  down  from  his  horse  entered  the 


86  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

tavern  and  made  for  the  common  room.  There 
he  found  a  surly  tapster,  and,  trying  hard  to  be 
civil  and  yet  not  abject,  begged :  "  Can  you  give 
me  a  glass  of  aqua  vitae?  I've  a  wounded  friend 
here  —  " 

To  which  the  tapster  simply  responded: 
"  Pack ! " 

Hugh  gave  back  a  step  or  two,  and  then,  with 
the  feeling  that  Strangwayes. might  be  dying  and 
he  must  do  something,  however  desperate,  pulled 
out  his  pistol.  "  I  must  have  that  aqua  vitae,"  he 
said  quietly.  "  Either  you  give  it  me  or  I  go 
fetch  it.  Make  up  your  mind." 

Instead  the  tapster  drew  away  to  the  door, 
bawling  for  assistance  till  he  roused  up  another 
man  and  a  maid  and  the  hostess  herself.  Hugh, 
with  his  back  to  the  wall  and  the  pistol  in 
his  hand,  felt  unjustified  and  ashamed,  but,  the 
thought  of  Strangwayes  nerving  him,  repeated 
his  request  to  the  hostess.  She  fell  to  rating  him 
shrilly  for  a  bullying  swashbuckler  to  frighten  a 
poor  woman  so,  and,  as  the  men  would  not  check 
her  and  Hugh  could  not  use  his  pistol  for  argu- 
ment here,  she  was  like  to  keep  it  up  some  time. 
Happily  the  maid,  who  had  peered  out  at  the 
window,  broke  in  with  a  glowing  account  of  the 
fine  horses  and  the  poor  wounded  gentleman, 
whereat  the  landlady,  after  boxing  the  wench's 
ears  for  gaping  out  of  doors,  bounced  over  to  the 
casement.  The  sight  of  Dick  Strangwayes  or  of 
the  horses  must  have  softened  her,  for  after  an 
instant's  gazing  she  began  to  rate  the  tapster  and 
bade  him  fetch  what  the  young  gentleman  re- 
quired. 


vi  THE   END   OF  THE  JOURNEY  87 

When  Hugh  came  out  triumphant  with  the 
glass  of  spirits  he  found  the  rest  of  the  inn  people 
gathered  about  the  horses,  and  the  hostess  very 
pressingly  urging  Strangwayes  to  light  and  rest 
at  her  house.  She  was  but  too  glad  to  help  a 
gentleman  fallen  on  misfortune,  she  explained, 
especially  when  the  gentleman  served  the  king, 
bless  him !  His  Majesty  and  all  his  men  had 
passed  through  there  and  some  of  them  had  lain 
in  her  house  only  the  night  before. 

"  Then  we'll  soon  be  up  with  your  friends, 
Dick,"  Hugh  urged,  trying  to  speak  cheerfully. 

Strangwayes  just  nodded,  then  drank  the  hos- 
tess's health  in  the  aqua  vitae,  and  with  a  flicker 
of  energy  bade  Hugh  get  to  his  saddle.  As  they 
left  the  little  knot  of  staring  people  behind  them, 
he  turned  his  face  toward  Hugh  and,  forcing  his 
drawn  lips  into  a  smile,  asked :  "  You  raided 
those  inn  folk?  You're  learning  bravely,  my 
Spanish  Puritan." 

Then  he  became  silent  and  suffered  the  gallant 
pace  at  which  he  had  set  out  to  slacken.  The  black 
showed  a  tendency  to  veer  from  one  side  of  the 
road  to  the  other,  till  at  last,  not  above  two  miles 
from  the  tavern,  Strangwayes  dropped  the  bridle 
rein  into  Hugh's  ready  hand.  "  You  must  lead 
the  horse  a  bit,"  he  said  wearily.  "  I'll  rest  me." 

Of  those  last  miles  Hugh  kept  only  blurred 
recollections,  among  which  the  dazzle  of  sunlight 
upon  the  firm  road  beneath  the  horses'  feet,  the 
sight  of  men  laboring  in  tilled  fields,  and  the 
smell  of  moist  woods,  recurred  vaguely.  Through 
all  the  shifting  changes  of  the  wayside  Strang- 
wayes, as  he  sat  bowing  over  the  pommel  of  his 


88  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

saddle  with  his  pallid  face  hidden  on  his  breast, 
was  alone  a  living  reality. 

The  long  piece  of  woodland  ended  at  last,  and 
across  the  fields  the  roofs  of  a  village  came  in 
sight.  To  the  left  horses  grazing  in  a  meadow 
whickered  to  the  passing  chargers,  and  then  the 
riders  trotted  slowly  in  among  the  houses.  There 
was  a  smith's  shop,  Hugh  remembered,  about 
which  lounged  men  in  great  boots  and  buff 
jackets,  and  before  the  village  inn  were  more  in 
the  same  attire.  Hugh  reined  up  there,  scarcely 
knowing  what  he  purposed,  but  before  he  could 
dismount  a  young  man  with  long  light  brown  hair, 
who  wore  a  scarlet  sash  across  his  jacket,  advanced 
from  the  inn  door.  "  King's  men  ?  "  the  stranger 
asked.  "  Why,  what  has  befallen  here  ?  " 

Strangwayes  raised  his  chin  a  trifle,  then  his 
head  sank  again.  "  Who  commands  ?  "  he  asked 
faintly. 

"  Captain  Dennis  Butler." 

"  Tell  him,  Richard  Strangwayes  seeks  him. 
He  —  "  There  the  voice  trailed  off  inaudibly. 

Hugh  leaned  a  little  from  his  saddle  and  got  his 
arm  about  his  friend.  Men  were  hurrying  forward 
curiously,  but  of  a  sudden  they  drew  aside  to  make 
way  for  a  thick-set  officer  with  a  black  beard,  who 
came  striding  through  their  midst.  "  On  my  soul, 
'tis  Dicky  Strangwayes ! "  he  cried,  halting  at  the 
injured  man's  stirrup.  "  Gad,  but  you're  come  in 
good  time !  We  can  give  you  a  bottle  of  Bur- 
gundy to  crack  or  a  rebel  throat  to  cut  —  " 

"  Ah,  Captain,  if  you'll  give  me  a  bed,  I  ask 
nothing  else  of  you,"  Strangwayes  gasped  out,  and 
pitched  forward,  half  into  Butler's  arms. 


vi  THE   END  OF  THE  JOURNEY  89 

They  had  him  off  the  horse  and  two  of  the 
troopers  carried  him  into  the  house,  so  speedily 
that  Hugh  got  only  a  glimpse  of  his  friend's  death- 
like face.  He  jumped  down,  intent  on  following, 
but  the  youngish  officer  with  the  light  hair,  paying 
him  no  heed,  walked  away  and  left  him  to  the  curi- 
ous troopers.  They  asked  him  many  questions 
touching  Strangwayes  and  how  he  had  been  hurt, 
which  Hugh,  with  eyes  on  the  door  by  which  his 
comrade  had  disappeared,  could  only  answer  dis- 
jointedly.  Presently  a  man  came  out  and,  saying 
that  Guidon  Allestree  had  so  ordered  it,  led  the 
black  and  the  bay  off  to  be  groomed  and  fed. 
Still  unbidden  Hugh  followed  into  the  stable  yard, 
where,  sitting  down  on  the  shaft  of  a  cart,  he  stared 
at  the  inn  till  he  knew  every  angle  of  its  timbered 
roof.  He  realized  vaguely  that  men  passed  him  by, 
and  one  group,  loafing  near  at  hand  in  the  shelter 
of  a  shed,  he  heard  talking  loudly  together.  Once, 
when  they  were  complaining  of  the  lack  of  liquor 
at  this  tavern,  he  was  aware  that  one  grumbled, 
"  No  wonder ;  Gwyeth's  men  lay  here  yesternight." 

Even  that  seemed  not  to  be  personal  to  Hugh, 
and  he  still  sat  staring  at  the  blank  inn  windows, 
while  he  wondered  to  what  room  they  had  carried 
Strangwayes.  At  last  he  could  endure  the  sus- 
pense no  longer,  but  taking  his  courage  in  his 
hand  walked  into  the  house,  where,  halfway  up 
the  stairs,  he  met  the  light-haired  man.  "  I  pray 
you,  may  I  not  see  Master  Strangwayes  ?  "  Hugh 
blurted  out  his  business  at  once. 

"  The  surgeon  has  forbidden  it.  They  have 
but  just  cut  out  the  bullet,  and  he  is  too  weak  to 
be  worried." 


90  HUGH  GWYETH  CH, 

"  Is  there  —  much  danger?  "  Hugh  faltered. 

"  Nay,  very  little.  A  mere  ugly  flesh  wound, 
but  he  has  lost  much  blood  and  is  near  exhausted. 
—  Come,  come,  don't  give  way  like  that,  boy,"  the 
young  man  added,  as  a  sob  of  sheer  relief  escaped 
Hugh.  "Your  master'll  be  sound  enough  in  a 
couple  of  weeks." 

Hugh  looked  up  with  his  face  aflame ;  because 
his  clothes  were  ragged  was  no  reason  that  the 
young  officer  should  take  him  for  a  horse-boy. 
"  Will  you  be  so  good  as  tell  Dick  I  am  glad  he  is 
recovered  ? "  he  said  slowly.  "And  give  him  back 
his  pistol  here,  and  tell  him  since  he  is  in  the 
hands  of  friends  I  have  gone  about  my  own  affairs." 

So  saying  he  went  down  the  stairs  and,  without 
a  single  glance  at  the  light-haired  officer,  passed 
out  into  the  courtyard.  He  would  not  hang  about 
the  place  a  moment  longer,  he  vowed,  but  then  he 
reproached  himself  for  deserting  Strangwayes  and 
had  half  a  mind  to  go  back,  when  by  chance  he 
caught  sight  of  the  same  group  of  loungers  he 
remembered  had  spoken  of  Colonel  Gwyeth.  On 
the  impulse  he  went  to  them  and,  questioning 
them,  learned  that  not  only  had  Colonel  Alan 
Gwyeth  been  that  very  morning  at  the  inn,  but 
he  was  now  not  above  eight  miles  distant  at 
Shrewsbury. 

At  that  Hugh  faced  about  and  took  the  high- 
way for  the  great  town.  It  was  not  deserting 
Dick  Strangwayes  now,  he  told  himself,  for  his 
father  would  doubtless  let  him  have  a  horse  and 
ride  back  next  day  to  see  his  friend,  and  in  any 
case  he  must  go  forward,  lest  his  father  be  off  to 
some  other  part  of  the  country.  So  during  the 


vi  THE  END   OF  THE  JOURNEY  91 

sunny  last  hours  of  the  afternoon  he  hurried  along, 
scarcely  observing  the  villages  through  which  he 
passed  nor  the  men  on  foot  or  horseback  whom 
he  met  or  overtook,  in  the  eager  hope  at  each 
turn  of  the  road  that  he  would  come  upon  Shrews- 
bury steeples.  He  hardly  felt  sleepy  from  last 
night's  long  watch,  nor  stiff  with  his  rough  ride,  just 
eager  and  happy.  When  he  thought  of  Strang- 
wayes  it  was  only  to  be  thankful  that  his  hurt  had 
not  proved  mortal,  and  to  be  glad  that  the  skir- 
mish at  the  "  Golden  Ram  "  had  happened.  For 
now  he  could  go  to  his  father,  not  a  raw  school- 
boy, but  a  young  gentleman  who  had  been  under 
fire ;  he  was  just  a  bit  sorry  he  had  not  himself 
been  wounded. 

But  when  at  length  he  saw  the  last  horizontal 
rays  of  the  sun  upon  the  clustered  roofs  of 
Shrewsbury,  his  happy  mood  seemed  to  end.  It 
was  all  too  good  to  be  true ;  once  before  he  had 
thought  himself  almost  in  his  father's  arms  and 
he  had  been  deceived.  He  hardly  dared  ask  a 
countryman  if  the  king  were  lodging  in  the  town 
yonder,  and,  finding  it  true,  could  not  walk  for- 
ward fast  enough,  lest  before  he  came  up  his 
Majesty  should  move  away. 

Walk  fast  as  he  would,  twilight  was  deepening 
when  he  entered  the  town,  but  hordes  of  people 
—  gaping  country  folk,  sober  burghers,  swagger- 
ing troopers,  gayly  dressed  gentlemen  —  made 
the  dusky  streets  lively  as  by  day.  Among  them 
all  Hugh  forced  a  path,  jostled  and  pushed,  and 
pushing  in  his  turn.  He  began  inquiring  of 
those  he  met  if  Colonel  Alan  Gwyeth  lodged  in 
the  town,  and  some  had  not  heard  the  name,  and 


92  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

some  knew  such  an  officer  was  with  the  king  but 
knew  not  where  he  lay.  At  last  he  chanced  upon 
a  foot  soldier  who  directed  him  for  Alan  Gwyeth's 
lodgings  to  the  west  gate  of  the  town.  Thither 
Hugh  tramped  to  search  the  neighborhood  for  the 
house  and  get  cursed  for  disturbing  people,  but 
still  he  persisted  in  his  search,  though  there  would 
creep  in  upon  him  a  hopeless  feeling  that  it  had 
all  been  delusion  from  the  first  and  he  never  would 
find  his  father. 

In  the  end  he  got  a  direction  that  took  him 
out  a  quarter-mile  beyond  the  west  gate  to  an 
old  timbered  house  that  sat  close  upon  the  road ; 
knocking  and  making  his  usual  inquiry  of  a  curt 
servant,  he  found  that  Colonel  Alan  Gwyeth 
lodged  there.  Almost  unable  to  believe  it,  Hugh 
repeated  the  words  blankly  after  the  servant,  then 
stood  staring  at  him  without  speaking  till  the  door 
was  nearly  shut  in  his  face.  He  stayed  it  with 
one  hand,  while  he  asked  to  see  the  colonel. 

"  He  is  hence  with  other  gentlemen  this  even- 
ing; I  know  not  when  he  will  return,"  was  the 
short  reply  before  the  door  was  closed  in  good 
earnest. 

Hugh  still  stood  on  the  steps,  trying  to  com- 
prehend that  it  was  all  true ;  in  a  few  hours  his 
father,  the  tall  reddish-haired  man,  would  be 
walking  up  to  that  very  door.  He  would  see 
him,  at  last.  He  went  slowly  down  to  the  road, 
and  then  paused ;  if  he  walked  away  his  father 
might  come,  for  the  evening  was  already  half 
spent.  He  decided  it  would  be  better  to  wait 
there,  so  he  went  up  the  steps  again  and  sat 
down. 


vi  THE   END   OF  THE  JOURNEY  93 

At  first  he  had  no  lack  of  company ;  horsemen 
went  swinging  by,  and  groups  of  men,  some 
staidly,  some  boisterously  with  shouts  and  songs, 
passed  in  the  road  below  him.  Hugh  listened 
with  ears  alert  and  as  each  dark  form  drew  near 
asked  himself  if  that  might  be  the  one.  Gradu- 
ally as  the  evening  wore  on  passers-by  became 
less  frequent  and  Hugh  wearied  of  starting  at 
each  new  step.  He  became  aware,  too,  that  he 
was  stiff  with  sitting  in  one  position  and  the 
night  was  cold  enough  to  make  his  clothes  of 
small  protection.  He  looked  up  at  the  sharp 
stars  and  counted  them  and  picked  out  those  he 
knew.  Then  he  changed  his  position  once  more, 
and  fell  to  thinking  how  good  a  hot  meal  would 
taste ;  he  had  not  eaten  food  since  the  supper  of 
the  night  before.  And  he  was  tired,  too ;  he 
leaned  his  head  against  the  railing  of  the  stairs, 
and,  just  closing  his  eyes,  saw  the  trees  and  fields 
of  the  night  ride  go  by,  and  saw  Strangwayes' 
white  face,  and  saw  the  face  of  the  tall  man  who 
used  to  carry  him  on  his  shoulder. 

A  great  noise  of  talking  made  him  rouse  up, 
wondering  dazedly  if  he  had  slept.  Somebody 
was  shouting  out  a  drinking  song,  and  others, 
with  voices  crisp  in  the  chilly  air,  were  disputing 
together.  A  torch  seemed  to  glare  in  his  very 
face,  and  a  man,  the  first  of  several  stumbling  up 
the  steps,  nearly  fell  over  him,  and  swore  at  him, 
then  dragged  him  to  his  feet  with  a  rough,  "  What 
are  you  doing  here,  sirrah  ?  " 

Rubbing  the  dazzle  of  the  light  out  of  his  eyes, 
Hugh  saw  five  or  six  men  about  him  on  the  steps, 
two  with  torches,  who  seemed  mere  troopers,  and 


94  HUGH  GWYETH  CH.  vi 

the  others  finely  dressed.  "  Is  —  Colonel  Gwyeth 
here  ?  "  he  faltered,  with  a  half  hope  that  the  meet- 
ing might  be  deferred  a  bit  longer. 

"  Here,  Alan,  this  gentleman  has  commands  for 
you,"  some  one  called,  and  laughed. 

At  that  another  man  came  briskly  up  from  the 
street  and,  shoving  the  others  aside,  pushed  under 
the  light  of  the  torches.  A  man  of  short  forty 
years,  and  but  little  above  middle  height,  Hugh 
perceived,  in  a  velvet  suit  with  a  plumed  hat  and  a 
cloak  wrapped  up  to  his  chin.  Beneath  the  torch- 
light his  long  hair  and  close-trimmed  beard  seemed 
the  color  of  gold,  and  he  had  blue  eyes  that  looked 
angry  and  his  face  was  flushed.  "  What's  to  do 
here  ? "  he  asked  curtly,  and  a  trick  of  the  tone 
set  Hugh's  memory  struggling  for  something  that 
had  long  been  past.  "  What  do  you  want  of  me, 
you  knave  ? " 

Hugh  looked  up  at  the  flushed,  impatient  face, 
and,  stammering  to  find  words,  wished  it  were  all 
over  and  these  men  gone,  and  he  were  alone  with 
this  stranger ;  then  he  hesitated  desperately, 
"  Colonel  Gwyeth,  if  it  like  you,  I  am  your  son." 

Somebody  laughed  foolishly,  and  another  began, 
"  Tis  a  wise  child  — "  but  Alan  Gwyeth  looked 
Hugh  over  and  then,  turning  on  his  heel  with  a 
curt  "  The  devil  you  are ! "  walked  through  the 
open  door  into  the  house.  The  others  tramped 
noisily  after  him ;  some  one  gave  Hugh  a  hasty 
shove  that  sent  him  pitching  to  the  foot  of  the 
steps,  and  as  he  recovered  himself  he  heard  the 
house-door  slammed. 


CHAPTER   VII 

HOW   THE    WORLD    DEALT    BY   A    GENTLEMAN 

HE  could  get  only  a  broken  sleep,  because  of  a 
door  that  was  always  slamming ;  sometimes  men 
were  laughing,  too,  but  the  crash  of  the  closing 
door  was  louder  still,  so  loud  Hugh  woke  at  last. 
"  It  was  all  a  bad  dream,"  he  said  in  his  thoughts, 
with  a  lightening  of  the  heart  that  made  him  feel 
like  his  old  self.  But  next  moment  his  hand 
touched  the  damp  boards  of  the  doorway  in  which 
he  was  crouched  and  found  them  real ;  across  the 
roadway  the  dim  houses,  with  the  mist  that  comes 
before  day  hanging  over  them,  were  real ;  and  so 
was  the  blank  sky.  Then  all  that  had  happened 
last  night  was  true :  there  was  a  lad  named  Hugh 
Gwyeth,  whose  father  would  have  none  of  him, 
who  had  not  a  friend  to  turn  to,  nor  a  penny  to 
his  name,  nor,  except  for  this  cold  doorway  whither 
he  had  crawled,  a  place  to  lay  his  head.  Hugh 
sat  up  and,  as  if  it  were  another  man's  concern, 
checked  it  all  off  dispassionately. 

Just  then  a  drunken  trooper  came  reeling  down 
the  empty  street,  and  Hugh  found  himself  mak- 
ing nice  calculations  as  to  whether  the  man's  zig- 
zag progress  would  plunge  him  into  a  muddy 
puddle  just  opposite  the  doorway,  or  bring  him 
safely  by  on  the  far  side.  When  the  fellow 

95 


96  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

staggered  past  unsplashed  Hugh  lost  interest  in 
him,  and  began  counting  the  windows  of  the 
opposite  houses,  that  were  slowly  lighting  up  with 
the  dawn.  Presently  a  man  on  a  red  horse  came 
clicking  down  the  narrow  way,  then  two  men 
helping  a  comrade  home,  then  a  little  squad  of 
foot  soldiers  under  a  brisk  officer ;  and  after  that 
townsmen  and  stray  troopers  came  in  greater 
numbers,  the  doors  and  windows  opened,  and  the 
day  began. 

All  the  long  morning  Hugh  tramped  the  streets 
of  Shrewsbury,  aimlessly,  for  he  had  nowhere  to 
go.  Everscombe  was  not  to  be  thought  of ;  even 
if  he  had  been  at  the  very  gates  of  the  manor 
house,  even  if  his  grandfather  had  found  it  in 
his  heart  to  relent,  the  affair  at  the  "  Golden 
Ram  "  would  have  made  forgiveness  impossible 
to  his  kinsfolk.  Neither  could  he  go  back  to 
Strangwayes,  who  had  lent  him  a  horse  for  which 
his  father  was  to  pay ;  at  least  the  bay  would 
compensate  for  that,  but  he  had  no  right  to  ask 
farther  kindness  which  he  could  never  return. 
And  then  Strangwayes'  new  friends  had  shown 
him  out  of  doors ;  perhaps  Dick  would  not  care 
to  have  him  come  back. 

With  such  broken  reflections  Hugh  loitered 
through  the  town,  and  now  and  again,  in  gazing 
at  the  swarming  men  and  brave  horses  that  filled 
the  streets,  tried  to  forget  his  miserable  plight. 
About  noon  he  stood  many  minutes  in  a  gutter 
and  listlessly  watched  a  great  body  of  horse 
march  by.  He  heard  some  one  say  the  king  was 
going  northward  on  an  expedition,  and  he  asked 
himself  if  Colonel  Gwyeth  went  too,  and  was 


vn     THE  WORLD  AND  A  GENTLEMAN     97 

troubled  an  instant  till  he  realized  that  he  had 
now  no  call  to  follow. 

Then  he  let  all  that  pass,  and  thought  only 
that  the  autumn  air  was  chilly  and  he  was  hungry, 
so  that  though  he  pulled  his  belt  a  notch  tighter 
it  availed  nothing.  A  man  must  eat,  and  out  in 
the  world  food  came  only  by  work,  he  realized ; 
and  with  that  he  fell  to  wondering  if  there  were 
any  labor  to  which  he  might  turn  his  hand.  A 
small  knowledge  of  Latin,  small  skill  with  a  sword, 
and  the  ability  to  back  a  horse,  —  that  summed 
up  his  accomplishments.  Hugh  told  them  over 
with  a  feeling  that  either  he  had  not  been  equipped 
for  such  a  fortune  as  this,  or  he  had  struck  out  for 
himself  long  before  his  education  was  completed. 
But  if  he  could  ride  and  handle  a  sword  he  might 
turn  trooper,  so,  coming  in  sight  of  a  smith's  shop 
and  men,  one  of  whom  looked  a  petty  officer, 
lounging  about  it,  he  ventured  up  shyly  and,  as 
the  fellows  were  in  good  humor,  questioned  them 
tentatively,  if  they  might  not  perhaps  care  to 
enroll  him  among  them.  They  only  laughed  at 
him,  and  the  petty  officer  bade  him  run  home  and 
grow.  With  his  hopes  a  bit  dashed  Hugh  walked 
away,  but,  strengthened  by  having  a  purpose, 
tramped  the  town  all  the  afternoon  in  search 
of  employment  among  the  horse  soldiery.  But 
those  he  applied  to  either  lost  their  tempers  and 
swore  at  him,  or  laughed  and  chaffed  him ;  and 
the  foot  soldiers,  to  whom  he  finally  offered 
himself,  were  even  more  contemptuous.  "  You  ? 
'Twould  need  another  fellow  to  bear  your  musket," 
the  last  man  he  questioned  answered  him  gruffly. 

That  night  Hugh  slept  in  the  sheltered  corner 


98  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

of  an  alley,  and  two  officers,  tramping  through  at 
midnight  with  a  torchbearer,  stumbled  over  him. 
One  kicked  him,  the  other,  glancing  at  him,  flung 
him  a  penny  before  he  passed  on.  When  the  coin 
fell  beside  him  Hugh  did  not  move,  but  after  the 
torch  had  blinked  out  of  sight  he  groped  his  hand 
along  the  damp  ground,  shaking  with  nervousness 
that  he  did  not  find  the  penny,  and,  as  his  fingers 
closed  on  it,  almost  sobbed  with  relief.  He  sought 
out  a  bakehouse  at  once,  and  sitting  on  some 
dingy  steps  opposite  waited  the  hungry  hours 
till  morning  broke,  the  shop  opened,  and  burst- 
ing in  headlong  he  could  buy  his  bread.  It  went 
very  quickly,  leaving  him  hungrier  than  ever,  but 
he  got  no  more  till  next  morning,  when  a  gentle- 
man paid  him  twopence  for  holding  his  horse. 

He  had  now  given  over  tramping  the  town,  for 
he  knew  it  was  useless;  he  had  sought  employ- 
ment in  every  troop  in  Shrewsbury,  and  every- 
where he  had  been  rebuffed.  So  the  most  of  the 
day  he  sat  on  a  doorstep  and,  idly  watching  the 
street  and  the  sky,  tried  to  forget  what  life  had 
looked  like  four  days  ago.  When  he  was  ordered 
off  the  step  he  loitered  slowly  out  by  the  western 
gate,  and,  finding  him  a  snug  corner  in  the  lee 
of  a  shed  opposite  a  wayside  alehouse,  lay  down 
for  the  night.  He  was  beginning  now  to  get  a 
realization  of  what  had  befallen,  as  a  man  who 
has  been  stunned  recovers  consciousness  with  a 
sense  of  pain,  and  he  had  a  feeling  that  if  he 
could  have  cried  a  long  time  it  would  have  eased 
him,  but  the  hard  manhood  that  had  been  thrust 
upon  him  would  not  suffer  that  nor  anything 
which  might  relieve  him. 


vii  THE  WORLD   AND  A  GENTLEMAN  99 

Toward  morning  a  noise  of  loud  singing  woke 
him.  He  tried  to  sleep  again,  but  the  singing 
worried  him  and  besides  he  felt  cold  and  cramped. 
He  rose  at  last  to  stretch  himself,  and  stepping, 
out  into  the  road  saw,  sprawled  across  the  door- 
stone  of  the  alehouse,  a  big  dark  figure  that  was 
yelling  lustily  at  the  sky.  "  Have  you  come  at 
last?"  the  fellow  cried, "  I  said  to  myself, — maybe 
you  heard  me,  — '  Bob,  if  thou  keepst  it  up  time 
enough  some  mother's  son  will  come.'  Look  'ee 
here,  lad,  you're  to  do  me  a  kindness.  I  am  quite 
sober,  mark  you,  sober  as  parson  himself,  but 
somewhat  is  amiss  with  my  legs.  An  you'll  aid 
me  to  the  stable  you'll  do  his  Majesty  a  great 
service." 

There  might  be  a  ha'penny  at  the  end  of  it, 
so  Hugh  suffered  the  trooper,  as  he  judged  the 
man  to  be,  to  lean  on  him,  and  they  set  out 
unsteadily.  What  with  keeping  his  charge  erect 
and  looking  to  the  rough  highway  lest  they  both 
go  down,  he  paid  little  heed  to  the  landmarks, 
though  once,  at  a  half-articulate  order  from  his 
companion,  he  swerved  over  to  the  left  and,  keep- 
ing a  dark  house  on  one  hand,  walked  toward  a 
dim  light.  They  were  just  near  enough  for  Hugh 
to  perceive  it  shone  from  an  isolated  low  building, 
when  an  armed  man  challenged  them,  but  at  a 
thick  reply  from  the  trooper  let  them  go  stum- 
bling on.  The  familiar  stamp  of  horses  was  now 
audible,  the  light  shone  clearer,  and  at  last  Hugh 
guided  his  shambling  comrade  in  at  the  open 
door  of  a  stable.  On  either  hand  the  uncertain 
light  of  a  brace  of  lanterns  showed  rows  of  dim 
stanchions  and  tethered  horses,  before  it  merged 


ioo  HUGH   GWYETH  ca 

away  into  the  dark  lofts  and  vast  roof.  In  the 
centre  of  the  stable  the  lanterns  flung  a  clear 
circle  of  yellow  light,  and  there  four  fully  armed 
carabineers,  seated  on  kegs  or  sprawling  on  the 
floor,  were  playing  at  dice.  The  sound  of  foot- 
steps made  them  look  up,  and  one  half  swore, 
while  another  started  as  if  to  sweep  up  dice  and 
boxes.  "  Does  this  man  belong  to  you  ?  "  Hugh 
asked  desperately,  for  his  companion,  with  his 
florid  face  suddenly  turned  melancholy,  was  lean- 
ing against  the  doorpost  and  blinked  at  the 
light,  but  said  nothing. 

"  Yes,  he  belongs  to  us,"  replied  one  with  a 
beard,  who  seemed  the  leader  of  the  party,  "  the 
more  sorrow  to  us."  He  threw  his  dice  deliber- 
ately: "Seven-tray-cinque.  —  Pitch  him  down  on 
the  hay  yonder." 

"  Nick,  how  can  you  use  a  comrade  so?"  maun- 
dered the  prodigal,  as  Hugh  helped  him  across 
the  stable  and  suffered  him  to  roll  over  on  a  heap 
of  hay. 

"  Be  thankful  you  get  no  worse.  If  old  Jack 
Ridydale  had  not  shogged  off  with  the  troop  to 
Chester,  you'd  get  the  devil  for  this;  he's  the  man 
could  give  it  you." 

"  Hardwyn  has  mind  to  make  himself  such 
another,"  said  one  of  the  younger  and  less  assured 
men. 

"  Jeff  Hardwyn  is  a  cursed  better  soldier  than 
ever  thou'lt  be,"  Nick  replied  concisely,  and  the 
play  went  on. 

None  took  heed  of  Hugh,  so,  after  a  moment's 
hesitation,  he  sat  down  on  the  loose  hay,  where 
his  drunken  friend  had  fallen  sound  asleep.  He 


vii  THE  WORLD  AND  A  GENTLEMAN  101 

had  no  call  to  linger,  but  the  hay  was  far  softer 
than  the  ground  of  the  streets,  so  he  sat  there 
and  listened  to  the  gruff  talk  of  the  men  and  the 
click  of  the  dice.  At  length  he  stretched  him- 
self out,  and,  watching  the  dim  lanterns  flicker, 
he,  too,  went  to  sleep. 

Of  a  sudden  he  was  wakened  by  some  one's 
pitching  him  roughly  off  the  hay.  There  was 
dull  morning  light  in  the  stable  now,  men  were 
feeding  and  grooming  horses,  and  right  over  him 
stood  a  shock-headed  fellow,  with  more  of  the 
peasant  than  the  trooper  still  visible  in  him,  who 
demanded,  "  What  beest  thou  here  for  ?  " 

" 'Twas  no  harm,"  Hugh  answered,  getting  up 
stiffly;  he  had  meant  to  walk  away,  but  in  the 
stable  there  was  at  least  a  roof  over  him,  and  he 
hesitated.  "  I  can  feed  your  horse  for  you,"  he 
ventured. 

"  Then  run  fetch  a  bucket  of  water,"  the  other 
commanded.  Hugh  caught  up  the  bucket,  and, 
hurrying  out  into  the  chill  of  the  morning,  found 
between  the  stable  and  the  big  house  a  well  where 
he  drew  the  water,  as  he  was  bidden.  After  that 
he  fetched  more  water,  brought  fodder,  rubbed 
down  a  horse,  —  it  was  marvellous  the  amount  of 
work  that  could  be  found  for  an  extra  pair  of 
hands  to  do.  But,  weary  and  faint  though  he 
was,  Hugh  labored  on  bravely,  with  a  special 
effort  to  satisfy  Jonas  Unger,  the  trooper  who 
had  first  roused  him,  in  which  he  succeeded  so 
well  that  when  at  last  the  men  tramped  away  to 
breakfast  Unger  permitted  him  to  follow  along. 
Crossing  an  open  space  betwixt  the  great  house 
and  the  stables,  they  came  out  through  a  hedge- 


102  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

gap  upon  a  byway  and  scattered  cottages  where 
the  carabineers  were  quartered.  Hugh  slunk  into 
the  common  room  of  one  of  these  cottages  at  the 
heels  of  Unger  and  the  man  called  Nick  Cowper, 
and  there,  sitting  at  table,  with  white  lips  and 
heavy  eyes,  found  the  roisterer  he  had  helped 
home  the  night  before.  Bob  Saxon,  as  his  mates 
called  the  fellow,  was  past  much  talk  this  morn- 
ing, and  the  others  were  in  tolerably  good  temper, 
so  Hugh  was  suffered  to  take  a  share  of  their 
rations,  which  he  ate  on  the  doorstone.  The 
food  was  coarse,  but  there  was  almost  enough  to 
satisfy  him,  so,  in  the  hope  of  earning  more,  when 
the  men  went  back  to  the  stables  he  followed 
them. 

After  a  time  a  curt  officer  entered  the  stable, 
and,  ordering  the  little  troop  to  horse,  led  it  away 
to  be  exercised.  Hugh  cleaned  out  a  stall  and 
had  some  speech  with  other  ragged  hangers-on 
who  made  refuge  in  the  stable,  but,  liking  the 
company  little,  soon  held  his  peace  and  gave  heed 
only  to  his  work.  About  noon  the  troop  returned 
with  the  horses  all  sweaty,  and  a  deal  of  unharness- 
ing and  rubbing  down  to  be  done.  Hugh  came 
forward  to  take  his  share  and  was  removing  the 
saddle  from  Saxon's  horse,  when  he  thought  to 
hear  mention  of  a  name  that  made  his  hands  shake 
at  their  task.  Pausing  to  look  up,  he  saw  it  was 
a  sunburned  man  with  a  twist  of  mustache  who 
was  speaking :  "  Ay,  'twas  one  of  the  colonel's 
men  brought  the  tidings.  The  king  has  surely 
taken  in  Chester." 

"  Good  news,  in  truth,  Corporal  Hardwyn ! "  re- 
plied Cowper,  whom  the  man  addressed.  "And 


vn  THE  WORLD  AND  A  GENTLEMAN  103 

we  tied  here  to  hammer  wit  into  dunder-pated  raw 
levies !  Ay,  'twas  like  Colonel  Gwyeth  to  serve 
us  such  a  trick." 

Hugh  heard  no  more  for  the  rush  of  blood  to 

^5 

his  temples ;  still  he  could  not  believe  his  bad  for- 
tune had  served  him  such  a  cruel  turn,  so,  when 
he  had  put  Saxon's  horse  into  its  stall,  he  went  up 
to  Cowper  and  asked  point-blank :  "  An't  like  you, 
who  commands  this  troop  ?  " 

"  What  is  that  to  you,  sirrah  ?  "  asked  Cowper. 

"  Is  it  —  Alan  Gwyeth?"  Hugh  persisted. 

"  Yes,  hang  you !  "  replied  the  man,  and  boxed 
his  ears  for  asking. 

Even  as  he  reeled  back  with  his  face  tingling, 
Hugh  found  room  in  his  heart  to  be  thankful  that 
he  had  told  no  one  his  name.  These  knaves  must 
never  know  it  was  their  commander's  son  whom 
they  had  the  right  to  knock  about.  Perhaps  the 
dignity  of  his  family  required  that  he  should  leave 
the  place  at  once,  he  reflected  dolefully,  as  he 
groomed  Cowper's  horse ;  but,  after  all,  it  was  bet- 
ter to  drudge  for  his  father's  troopers  than  to  beg 
in  Shrewsbury  streets. 

So  Hugh  stayed  on  at  the  troop  stables,  where 
he  groomed  horses,  and  cleaned  stalls,  and  fetched 
and  carried  with  all  the  strength  and  readiness 
necessary  to  please  a  score  of  rough  masters. 
From  day's  end  to  day's  end  it  was  hard,  hateful 
labor  with  no  sign  of  release.  Once,  to  be  sure, 
at  the  news  that  the  king  had  returned  from  Ches- 
ter, something  that  was  half  hope  and  half  dread 
awoke  in  him,  for  there  was  a  chance  that  at  any 
hour  Colonel  Gwyeth  might  come  to  the  stables. 
But  soon  he  learned  that  his  father  had  gone 


io4  HUGH  GWYETH  CR 

foraying  to  the  eastward,  so  even  that  small  hope 
vanished,  and  life  meant  only  to  work  with  all  his 
strength,  sleep  on  the  hay,  share  the  troopers'  ra- 
tions, and  through  all  endure  such  abuse  and  bru- 
tality as  they  might  choose  to  inflict  upon  him. 

It  was  not  long  before  Hugh  dropped  his  old 
methods  of  classification  and  grouped  men  in  two 
great  divisions :  those  who  struck  at  you  for  the 
fun  of  seeing  you  dodge,  and  those  who  struck  to 
hurt  you.  Of  the  former  class  was  Bob  Saxon, 
who  had  a  certain  good  nature  about  him,  though 
his  horseplay  was  apt  to  be  rough.  He  had  been 
to  the  wars  in  Germany,  Hugh  gathered  from  the 
big  stories  the  fellow  told,  and  for  that  reason 
Hugh  felt  drawn  toward  him;  at  least,  Saxon 
knew  the  land  where  he  had  been  born,  and  he 
knew  Colonel  Gwyeth.  "  There's  a  man  would 
take  a  trot  through  hell,  if  he  had  the  word,"  he 
once  said  admiringly  of  the  colonel,  whereat  Hugh 
felt  a  feeble  thrill  of  pride,  and  held  his  chin 
higher,  till  Cowper  happened  along  and  set  him 
to  cleaning  his  boots.  Hugh  considered  there 
was  nothing  good  to  be  said  for  Nick  Cowper ; 
he  had  an  unconscious  knack  of  setting  tasks  that 
peculiarly  unbefitted  a  gentleman,  while  at  all 
times  he  was  brutal  with  the  fierce  roughness  of 
a  seasoned  campaigner,  who  struck  to  hurt.  To 
be  sure,  no  malice  seemed  behind  his  brutality ; 
it  was  merely  his  way  of  reducing  command  to 
terms  of  the  senses,  but  that  gave  small  remedy 
to  Hugh's  skin  or  to  his  wounded  dignity,  when 
Cowper  sent  him  stumbling  about  his  work  with 
his  lip  cut  or  his  nose  bleeding. 

But  Hugh  was  to   learn  there   were  rougher 


vn  THE  WORLD  AND   A  GENTLEMAN  105 

dealers  even  than  Cowper,  when  he  came  into  con- 
flict with  Jeff  Hardwyn,  the  corporal.  He  was 
one  who  seldom  lifted  his  hand  against  any  man, 
but  when  he  ordered  the  troopers  obeyed ;  and 
Hugh,  with  a  feeling  that  he  must  not  get  the 
fellow's  ill-will,  jumped  to  do  his  bidding  and 
called  him  "sir."  But,  for  all  these  poor  defences, 
he  at  last  fell  under  the  corporal's  displeasure,  by 
such  trivial  happenings  that  even  looking  back  he 
did  not  understand  how  it  had  come  to  pass. 
There  had  been  a  day  of  heavy  rains  that  turned 
the  roads  to  mud,  in  the  midst  of  which  Unger 
sent  Hugh  tramping  through  Shrewsbury  in  quest 
of  a  man  he  was  not  able  to  find.  When  the  boy 
returned  late  in  the  afternoon,  drenched  and  tired, 
he  discovered  the  whole  errand  had  been  a  mere 
hoax  for  the  diversion  of  Unger  and  Saxon  and 
the  half-dozen  others  who  were  loafing  in  the  dry 
stable.  "  Next  time,  pray  you  take  a  fair  day  to 
be  witty,"  Hugh  said,  trying  not  to  show  temper, 
and  was  starting  out  to  forage  hungrily  for  dinner 
when  Hardwyn  bade  him  stop  and  tighten  a  buckle 
on  his  saddle  girth.  Pulling  off  his  coat,  Hugh 
turned  to  the  job,  which  he  found  harder  than  he 
thought,  so  he  did  it  hastily,  then  ran  out  to  seek 
his  dinner,  and,  for  his  late  coming,  got  none  at  all. 

But  when  he  splashed  wearily  back  to  the  stable 
he  suddenly  forgot  all  the  petty  misadventures  of 
the  luckless  day,  for  over  by  the  stalls  Hardwyn 
was  standing  with  his  brows  drawn  together  omi- 
nously. "  Can  you  not  tighten  a  buckle  better 
than  that  ? "  he  asked,  and  tapped  the  saddle  at 
his  feet  with  the  toe  of  his  boot. 

"  I  did  it  as  well  as  I  knew,  sir,"  Hugh  replied. 


io6  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

"  Well,  I'll  learn  you  to  do  it  better  next  time," 
said  Hardwyn  without  temper,  and  crossing  the 
stable  picked  up  a  heavy  horsewhip. 

Hugh  thought  that  the  heart  had  gone  out  of 
his  body,  so  weak  and  empty  of  strength  did  he 
feel.  He  had  been  whipped  many  times,  at  school 
and  at  Everscombe,  but  he  knew  this  would  be  dif- 
ferent, and  he  was  half  afraid,  yet  he  did  not  run. 
Indeed,  when  Hardwyn  took  him  by  the  neck  of 
his  shirt,  he  looked  up  and  said  quietly,  "  I  am 
not  going  to  run  away." 

"  No,  I'll  wager  you're  not,"  Hardwyn  answered, 
and  brought  the  whip  stinging  down  across  his 
back. 

Hugh  heard  his  shirt  rip  in  the  grasp  on  his 
neck,  and  he  felt  a  foolish  concern  over  it ;  he  saw 
the  loose  spears  of  hay  scattered  on  the  dingy 
floor  at  his  feet ;  and  he  wondered  why,  since  he 
had  not  meant  to  struggle,  he  had  twisted  up  one 
arm  and  griped  Hardwyn's  wrist  that  held  him. 
He  knew  that  he  was  counting  the  blows,  eleven 
so  far,  but  he  durst  not  open  his  lips  lest  in  spite 
of  himself  he  cry  out.  Were  the  cuts  of  the  whip 
bringing  blood,  he  wondered  ?  He  did  not  hear 
the  strokes,  but  he  counted  them  by  feeling;  at 
first  each  had  seemed  distinct  and  left  a  lingering 
smart,  but  now  his  whole  back  was  wincing  and 
quivering.  He  heard  Hardwyn  draw  a  deep 
breath  and  for  a  second  hoped  he  might  stop,  but 
there  came  another  slash  of  the  whip.  Then,  of 
a  sudden,  it  was  borne  in  on  him  that  Hardwyn 
meant  to  flog  him  till  he  cried.  Hugh  set  his 
teeth  tight  on  his  lip  and  only  thought,  "  I  will  not, 
I  will  not,"  and  felt  the  whip-cuts,  nothing  more, 


vn  THE  WORLD  AND  A  GENTLEMAN  107 

till  the  floor  seemed  blurry  and  came  nearer,  and 
his  shirt  ripped  again.  Then  he  heard  Saxon's 
voice :  "  Don't  kill  the  lad,  sir." 

"  Curse  his  stubbornness  !  "  Hardwyn  panted 
out,  and  then  there  were  other  blows  of  which  H  ugh 
kept  no  count.  He  only  knew  that  at  the  last  he 
found  himself  free  to  reel  over  against  the  boards 
of  a  stall,  and,  without  glancing  at  the  other  men 
around  them,  he  looked  up  into  Hardwyn's  flushed 
face  a  long  minute.  Then,  still  keeping  hold  on 
the  stall,  he  made  a  step  toward  the  door,  but 
Hardwyn  picked  up  the  saddle  and  flung  it  down 
before  him.  "  Mend  that  aright  now,"  he  ordered, 
"  and,  harkee,  if  ever  you  bungle  another  piece  of 
work  like  that,  I'll  flay  you  alive." 

Without  a  word  Hugh  took  up  the  saddle  and 
tightened  the  buckle.  His  fingers  shook,  he 
noted,  and  once,  when  he  put  his  hand  to  his 
mouth,  he  felt  his  lip  was  bleeding  where  he  had 
bitten  it.  But  he  had  not  cried  or  spoken,  nor 
would  he ;  when  the  saddle  was  put  to  rights  he 
flung  it  over  its  peg,  and,  still  keeping  silence, 
walked  out  of  the  stable  toward  the  highway. 

So  long  as  he  was  in  sight  of  the  men  he 
walked  with  tolerable  erectness,  but  he  knew  it 
could  not  last  long  and  he  must  get  away  from 
every  one,  so  he  struck  across  the  road  into  the 
fields.  There  he  turned  eastward  on  a  course 
that  would  finally  bring  him  round  Shrewsbury 
to  the  main  highway.  For  eastward  lay  the  vil- 
lage where  he  had  left  Strangwayes ;  Dick  would 
protect  him,  he  knew,  and  yet  he  knew  he  was 
not  going  to  him. 

As  well  walk  eastward  as  another  way,  though, 


io8  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

but  he  ached  from  head  to  foot  and  his  back 
throbbed  painfully ;  so  at  last,  on  a  bleak  hilltop, 
he  sat  down  to  rest,  and  watched  the  twilight 
close  in.  A  little  below  him  he  could  see  the 
dim  roofs  of  Shrewsbury  and  the  purpling  sky 
above.  The  western  star  came  out  first,  and,  as 
the  night  darkened,  many  more  showed  till  he 
lost  count  of  them  and  turned  his  eyes  to  the 
lights  of  the  town.  As  he  gazed  thither  he 
caught,  clear  and  vibrant  on  the  still  air,  the  note 
of  a  bell.  On  the  instant  the  foolish  old  tale  of 
Dick  Whittington  came  back  to  him :  "  Turn 
again,  turn  again."  Then  he  remembered  how 
Lois  and  he  had  spoke  together  the  day  before 
he  set  out  from  Everscombe ;  and,  when  he  had 
hoped  for  Whittington's  fortune,  she  had  answered 
that  his  father  would  be  glad  to  see  him. 

Of  a  sudden  Hugh  found  himself  lying  face 
down  in  the  wet  grass  of  the  hillside  with  his  fingers 
digging  into  the  turf.  If  he  were  only  dead,  now 
while  he  still  possessed  some  shred  of  self-respect ! 
He  could  not  go  on  living,  a  mere  horse-boy, 
everybody's  drudge,  with  his  highest  hope  to  be 
some  day  a  swaggering  private  trooper,  and  then 
to  be  knocked  on  the  head  in  a  petty  skirmish. 
It  was  so  piteously  different  from  the  soldierly 
life  he  had  planned,  but  he  did  not  ask  for  that 
now,  only  not  to  be  bullied  and  flogged  any 
more. 

Then  that  mood  passed,  and  he  knew  only  that 
he  was  cold  in  his  torn  shirt  and  his  back  was 
sore  so  he  was  loath  to  move.  But  the  cold  at 
last  forced  him  to  his  feet' and  set  him  pacing  up 
and  down  the  wet  grass ;  he  still  loved  life  enough 


vn  THE  WORLD  AND  A   GENTLEMAN  109 

to  exert  himself  to  keep  it.  Then  he  began  to 
realize  that,  after  all,  he  had  acted  like  a  child. 
Was  this  life  so  much  less  endurable  than  that 
at  Everscombe  ?  Was  it  worse  to  earn  his  living 
of  a  gang  of  brutal  troopers  than  be  dependent 
on  grudging  relatives  ?  If  he  did  get  more  blows, 
a  man  must  not  whimper  for  that,  and  he  was 
now  a  man.  Neither  must  a  man  go  crying  to 
his  friends ;  rather  the  thing  that  best  befitted  a 
gentleman  was  to  accept  the  life  he  had  taken  up 
and  go  on  bravely. 

So,  in  the  early  hours  of  the  morning,  Hugh 
Gwyeth  faced  westward  and  tramped  back  to  the 
stables.  Reaching  there  about  dawn,  he  walked 
in  as  usual,  and  taking  up  a  bucket,  went  to  draw 
water.  He  had  a  curious  sense  of  not  feeling 
ashamed  nor  abashed,  as  he  thought  to  feel  when 
facing  the  men  once  more,  but  rather  proud  of 
himself  and  of  more  dignity  than  ever.  He  had 
no  hope,  however,  of  being  a  hero  in  the  sight 
of  the  troopers.  Some  of  them  chaffed  him  over 
his  beating  and  his  slinking  back  again.  "  You 
wanted  more  of  the  same,  did  you  ? "  Hardwyn 
asked  dryly,  whereat  the  others  laughed.  Saxon 
chaffed  him  too;  but  later,  when  Hugh  came  to 
the  cottage  for  breakfast,  he  asked  him  roughly 
if  the  whip  had  drawn  blood,  and  then  he  helped 
the  boy  to  wash  off  his  hurt  back. 

By  next  day  every  one  had  forgotten  that  Hard- 
wyn had  flogged  him,  and  life  went  on  in  its  old 
course.  Only  Hugh  took  it  now  as  an  accepted 
thing;  there  was  no  escape,  so  he  would  make 
the  best  of  it,  do  as  he  was  bidden,  dodge  what 
blows  he  could,  and,  what  he  could  not  dodge, 


no  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

bear  without  flinching.  He  even  contrived,  so 
long  as  he  could  busy  himself  about  the  horses, 
to  find  a  sort  of  negative  pleasure  in  the  life. 
To  groom  and  feed  and  water  the  great,  friendly 
animals  did  not  seem  menial,  but  this  made  only 
a  part  of  the  day's  routine,  and  Hugh's  pride 
could  not  yet  stoop  willingly  to  cleaning  boots 
and  fetching  beer.  The  last  was  the  most  humil- 
iating employment  of  all ;  though  he  might  recon- 
cile himself  to  slipping  into  an  obscure  corner 
and  cleaning  the  boots  of  a  man  who  was  older 
than  he  and  a  better  soldier,  he  felt  that  to  tramp 
a  quarter-mile  on  the  highway  with  a  brace  of  jugs 
and  fetch  bad  beer  from  an  alehouse  for  a  crew 
of  peasant  troopers  could  never  befit  a  gentleman. 
Late  of  an  October  afternoon  he  was  trudging 
back  to  the  stable  from  such  an  errand,  when  he 
met  a  gay  company  of  horsemen  and,  to  save  be- 
ing trampled  on,  halted  at  one  side  of  the  road 
till  they  should  pass.  By  chance  he  glanced  up 
and  among  the  riders  saw  one  very  young  gentle- 
man with  yellow  curls,  who  wore  a  fine  blue 
velvet  suit  and  a  big  hat,  and  bestrode  a  dainty 
roan  mare.  Hugh  caught  his  breath  and  looked 
again,  then  dodged  headlong  back  from  the  road, 
in  behind  a  cottage  out  of  sight.  Halting  there 
a  moment  he  instinctively  looked  himself  over,  — 
ragged  shirt  with  the  sleeves  rolled  up  to  the 
shoulders,  ragged  breeches  stained  with  mud, 
half-worn  boothose,  and  shoes  that  were  falling 
to  pieces.  He  wondered  if  Frank  Pleydall,  in 
his  fine  clothes,  on  his  good  horse,  had  recog- 
nized him,  and  he  thought  it  unlikely.  With  a 
foolish  dread  of  a  second  encounter  he  made  his 


vn  THE  WORLD  AND   A  GENTLEMAN           in 

way  back  to  the  stable  through  the  fields ;  the 
going  was  rough,  and  he  now  perceived  much  of 
the  beer  had  slopped  out  of  the  jugs.  "  I  shall 
be  flogged  for  that,"  he  told  himself,  and,  with 
something  that  was  not  jealousy  but  hurt  him 
keenly,  he  wondered  if  Frank  Pleydall  knew  what 
a  happy  lad  he  was. 

But,  much  as  he  expected  it,  Hugh  did  not  get 
a  flogging ;  for  when  he  came  into  the  stable  yard 
he  found  strange  horses  standing  there,  and  two 
or  three  troopers  he  did  not  know,  and  his  own 
acquaintances  looked  energetic  and  on  good  be- 
havior, so  much  perturbed  they  did  not  even  rate 
him  about  the  beer.  "  The  colonel  is  back  from 
the  eastward,"  Unger  explained,  "  and  Corporal 
Ridydale  is  on  our  shoulders  again." 

"  He'll  send  you  packing,"  Cowper  spoke  cheer- 
fully to  Hugh. 

Just  then  Saxon,  riding  in,  called  to  Hugh  to 
groom  his  well-bespattered  horse,  so  the  boy,  eager 
though  he  was  to  hear  more,  must  walk- away  with 
the  beast  to  the  open  floor  of  the  stable,  where  he 
fell  to  work.  It  darkened  and  lanterns  were  lit ; 
one  was  hung  from  a  stanchion,  and  just  beneath 
Hugh  saw  a  stranger  standing,  a  tall,  thickset  man 
of  middle  age  with  a  heavy  beard,  who  seemed  to 
have  an  eye  for  all  the  business  of  the  stable,  and 
at  whose  word  men  moved  to  obey,  even  more 
readily  than  they  did  for  Hardwyn.  He  must  be 
John  Ridydale,  Hugh  decided,  so  he  got  Saxon's 
horse  betwixt  them,  and,  working  briskly,  hoped 
he  might  not  be  noticed.  But  presently  Ridydale 
stopped  giving  orders,  and  Hugh,  getting  uneasy 
at  his  silence  and  looking  sidewise  at  the  man, 


ii2  HUGH  GWYETH  CH.  vn 

found  he  was  gazing  at  him  with  his  brows  drawn 
together.  Hugh  feigned  to  be  very  busy  with 
the  horse,  but  the  currycomb  moved  unsteadily 
in  his  hand,  while  he  waited,  and  wondered  if 
Ridydale  would  kick  him  out  of  the  stable  at  once 
or  let  him  stay  long  enough  to  get  his  supper. 
Then  he  heard  a  heavy  step  and,  looking  up  and 
finding  the  corporal  beside  him,  drew  back  a  pace 
warily ;  but  the  other  griped  him  by  the  shoulder 
with  a  sharp,  "  What's  your  name,  lad  ?  " 

"  Hugh." 

"What  else?" 

"  Nothing  else,  sir." 

Hugh  had  his  arm  half  raised  to  shield  his  head, 
but  Ridydale  did  not  strike  at  him,  only  said  with 
something  strangely  like  kindliness,  "  Come  out- 
side here." 

There  were  horses  at  the  trough  by  the  door, 
Hugh  noted,  and  through  the  stable  yard  a  twi- 
light mist,  in  which  the  cottage  lights  looked 
blurry,  was  shutting  down.  They  had  drawn 
away  from  any  stray  troopers,  and  now,  right  by 
the  hedge,  Ridydale,  with  his  grasp  still  on  Hugh's 
shoulder,  halted  him  and  asked,  "  The  rest  of  the 
name  mightn't  be  Gwyeth,  perhaps,  master  ?  " 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE   INTERPOSITION    OF   JOHN    RIDYDALE 

IT  shamed  Hugh  afterward  to  remember  how 
overwhelmingly,  at  that  first  dim  prospect  of  re- 
lief, the  realization  of  his  friendlessness  and  deg- 
radation came  over  him,  till  not  even  sufficient 
spirit  was  left  in  him  to  make  his  usual  evasions. 
"Yes,  I  am  Hugh  Gwyeth,"  he  answered  simply; 
"  I  am  the  colonel's  son." 

Then  he  felt  the  sharp  sting  of  twigs  across  his 
face,  as  he  pressed  his  head  upon  his  folded  arms 
against  the  yielding  hedge,  and  his  breath  came 
stranglingly  for  a  great  lump  that  had  gathered  in 
his  throat  and  was  near  choking  him.  Ridydale 
was  patting  him  on  the  shoulder,  he  knew,  and 
he  heard  him  say :  "  Come,  come,  master,  don't 
go  play  the  woman  now.  'Tis  all  well,  I  tell  you." 

At  that  Hugh  lifted  his  head  from  his  arms. 
"  Did  my  father  send  you  to  seek  me  ?  "  he  asked, 
eagerly,  as  the  griping  feeling  in  his  throat  would 
let  him. 

Ridydale  hesitated  a  moment.  "  I'll  wager  he'll 
be  glad  enough  that  I  have  found  you,  sir,"  he  said 
at  length.  "  For  now,  get  you  over  to  the  cottage 
where  the  light  shows  yonder  and  bide  till  I  come." 

"But  Saxon's  horse," — Hugh's  long  drill    in 
stable  duty  made  him  protest, 
i  113 


ii4  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

"  Hang  the  horse  and  Bob  Saxon,  too!  "  growled 
Ridydale,  with  an  expletive  or  so.  "  A  pretty  trade 
for  your  father's  son  to  turn  a  hand  to !  " 

Still  muttering,  he  strode  back  to  the  stable, 
while  Hugh  obediently  made  his  way,  by  the 
hedge-gap  and  the  well-trodden  path,  to  the 
farthest  of  the  cluster  of  cottages  that  quartered 
the  troop.  By  virtue  of  his  coming  from  Corpo- 
ral Ridydale  he  was  suffered  to  enter  the  low- 
studded  living  room  and  sit  down  on  a  stool  in 
the  chimney  corner.  It  was  a  poor  smoky  room, 
but  with  the  fire  and  candle  it  was  warmer  and 
brighter  than  the  stable,  and  there  was  a  home- 
likeness  about  the  children  sprawling  on  the 
hearth,  the  woman  cooking  pottage  at  the  fire, 
even  about  her  stolid  peasant  husband,  that  made 
Hugh  content  to  sit  in  a  kind  of  open-eyed  drowse 
and  watch  them.  In  these  hours  of  negative  com- 
fort the  whole  burden  of  responsibility  seemed 
slipped  from  him,  and  he  neither  thought  nor 
vexed  himself  with  anticipation,  only  waited  for 
Ridydale. 

All  save  the  cottager's  wife  had  packed  to  bed 
in  the  loft  before  the  corporal  returned.  Hugh 
heard  him  outside,  rating  some  unknown  trooper 
with  bullying  volubility,  and  then  he  came  in, 
grumbling  about  the  mismanagement  of  Hard- 
wyn,  who  in  his  absence  had  got  the  men  out  of 
all  conceit  of  obedience.  By  the  time  they  sat 
down  to  supper  he  had  almost  calmed  himself, 
however,  and  was  kindly  spoken  to  the  woman 
who  attended  them  and  brusquely  civil  to  Hugh, 
who  after  his  vagabond  period  felt  ill  at  ease, 
even  at  so  poor  a  board.  Ridydale  noted  all  that, 


vm         INTERPOSITION   OF  JOHN   RIDYDALE        115 

and  apparently  he  had  made  inquiries  too,  for 
when  they  were  left  alone  at  table  he  spoke  out, 
half  angrily  and  half  sorrowfully,  "  So  you've 
been  drudging  in  the  stables  ever  since  that 
night,  sir  ? " 

"There  was  nothing  else  to  do,"  Hugh  answered, 
and  took  another  piece  of  bread,  with  a  comforta- 
ble sense  that  he  could  have  all  he  wanted. 

"  'Twas  hard  to  think  at  first  it  could  be  the 
colonel's  son,"  Ridydale  went  on,  "though  I  was 
on  the  watch  for  you.  I  heard  of  that  blockhead 
Rodes,  —  he  who  bore  the  colonel's  torch  that 
night  —  how  you  came  unto  him.  Rodes  told  it 
for  a  jest  the  colonel's  comrades  would  put  upon 
him,  but  I  that  had  been  with  him  nigh  twenty 
years,  I  had  a  shrewd  doubt  there  might  be  some 
truth  lay  at  the  bottom  of  it.  So  I  took  it  on 
myself  to  make  search,  so  soon  as  we  returned  to 
Shrewsbury.  Lord  save  me,  sir,  when  I  used  to 
see  you,  there  where  we  were  in  Lower  Saxony, 
such  a  well-favored  little  rascal,  I  never  thought 
to  come  upon  you  currying  horses  for  your 
father's  men." 

"You  were  in  Germany?"  Hugh  asked. 

"  Where  the  colonel  has  been  I  have  been, 
these  twenty  years.  I  went  as  his  man  when  he 
first  crossed  to  the  Low  Countries  —  a  proper 
young  soldier  he  was  !  Then  I  was  back  with 
him  in  Warwickshire,  seventeen  years  agone ;  it 
seems  longer." 

"Then  —  you  knew  my  mother?  "  Hugh  asked, 
pushing  aside  his  trencher. 

"  Ay,  Mistress  Ruth  Oldesworth,  and  a  gallant- 
spirited  young  gentlewoman  she  was.  To  leave 


n6  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

her  knave  kinsfolk  so,  for  love  o'  the  colonel ! 
And  she  was  that  kind  spoken  to  all  of  us  that 
followed  him.  Faith,  a  man  could  nigh  forgive 
her,  even  for  deserting  the  colonel  so." 

"  But  my  mother  was  not  to  blame  therein," 
Hugh  broke  out. 

"  Now,  sir,  what  know  you  thereof  ?  You  were 
just  a  younker  that  scarce  could  stand  then. 
There  was  blame  lay  with  her  as  well  as  with 
the  colonel." 

Hugh  rumpled  the  hair  back  from  his  forehead, 
while  he  strove  to  grasp  the  significance  of  this 
new  information.  He  realized  that  these  last 
weeks  there  had  been  in  his  heart  an  unphrased 
feeling  that  his  father  was  cruel,  and  his  mother 
must  have  suffered  much,  just  as  he  was  suffer- 
ing. Once  he  had  held  both  parents  something 
nobler  than  human  creatures  ;  and  latterly  his 
mother  had  seemed  more  than  ever  a  saint,  and 
his  father  an  utter  wretch ;  but  now,  what  was  he 
to  think  ? 

"  Did  she  ever  lay  blame  on  him,  sir  ?  "  Ridy- 
dale  spoke  presently. 

"No,"  Hugh  replied,  and  snuffed  the  candle 
with  his  fingers  a  moment,  then  broke  out :  "  Cor- 
poral Ridydale,  they  have  told  me  different  stories. 
I  know  not  what  to  believe,  but  you  were  there; 
on  your  honor  as  a  soldier,  what  was  betwixt  my 
father  and  my  mother  ?  " 

Ridydale  thoughtfully  eyed  the  fire  smoulder- 
ing on  the  hearth,  and  tousled  his  beard  with  one 
hand.  "  I  should  say  the  blame  rested  with  both, 
sir,"  he  began  at  length.  "  They  were  both  very 
young  and  high-tempered,  and  he  would  have  his 


vra         INTERPOSITION   OF  JOHN   RIDYDALE        117 

pleasure.  He  was  stubborn,  though  I  grudge  to 
say  it  of  him,  and  she  was  not  over-patient. 
There  was  words  betwixt  them,  and  that  same 
day  our  troop  was  sent  foraying  southward  and 
he  did  not  even  take  leave  of  her.  But  he  faced 
the  troop  about  ere  the  sennight  were  over  and 
brought  us  home  at  a  gallop.  And  when  he 
came  to  quarters  she  had  taken  you  and  gone  for 
England.  He  never  said  word  of  it,  even  to  me, 
save,  '  She  might  ha'  left  me  the  lad ;  he  was  as 
much  mine  as  hers.' " 

"  Then  —  he  did  have  some  care  for  me  once  ? " 
Hugh  asked;  he  was  keeping  his  face  turned 
toward  the  fire,  away  from  his  companion. 

"  You  were  his  only  son,  sir,  and  you  were  a 
marvellous  pretty  little  rogue." 

Hugh  smiled  at  the  fire,  rather  tremulously ; 
it  was  dawning  upon  him  that  Ridydale,  for  all 
his  formal  respect  and  kindness,  was  disappointed 
that  he  did  not  bear  out  the  promises  of  his  baby- 
hood, and  he  had  a  doleful  feeling  that  in  the 
same  way  Colonel  Gwyeth,  too,  would  always  be 
disappointed  in  him. 

"  After  that  we  went  into  Pomerania,"  Ridydale 
began  again,  "and  joined  ourselves  unto  King 
Gustavus.  For  the  colonel  would  not  make  a 
start  to  follow  his  lady ;  perhaps  'twas  stubborn- 
ness, but  he  had  no  word  of  her  since  she  quitted 
Germany,  and  he  was  too  proud  to  go  a-begging 
to  her,  so  we  just  stayed  on  in  the  Swedish  army. 
Once  —  'twas  the  year  we  fought  at  Wolfenbiittel 
—  there  came  a  gentleman  volunteer  from  Eng- 
land with  tidings  out  of  Warwickshire,  and  so  we 
learned  that  she  was  dead." 


u8  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

Hugh  blinked  at  the  fire  and  made  no  answer. 

"  Ay,  she  was  a  good  lady  and  of  a  fine  spirit," 
Ridydale  mused  aloud.  "  And  as  much  blame  lay 
with  the  colonel  as  with  her.  But  she  might  have 
been  more  patient." 

Then,  as  Hugh  still  kept  silent,  Ridydale  sug- 
gested they  get  to  bed,  and  led  the  way  up  the 
steep  ladder  to  the  loft.  There  were  two  pallets 
in  Ridydale's  rough  chamber,  and  Hugh  wondered 
impersonally,  as  he  lay  down  on  one,  what  trooper 
the  corporal  had  violently  dispossessed  of  his 
quarters  to  make  room  for  him.  At  the  foot  of 
the  pallet,  in  the  sloping  roof,  was  a  small  window, 
through  which  Hugh  found,  after  the  candle  was 
out,  he  could  see  five  bright  stars  and  a  patch  of 
purple-black  sky.  He  lay  staring  at  the  stars  and 
saw  no  meaning  in  them,  for  thinking  busily  to 
himself  and  trying  to  comprehend  that  his  parents 
had  been  neither  all  good  nor  utterly  depraved, 
but  just  frail  everyday  human  creatures,  whom  he 
must  love  and  bear  with  for  their  humanness. 

Next  morning  he  awoke  of  his  own  accord,  with- 
out being  kicked,  and,  finding  the  room  empty 
and  a  sunbeam  coming  through  the  little  window, 
rose  up  and  went  briskly  below  stairs.  Late 
though  he  was,  the  woman  gave  him  all  the  break- 
fast he  wanted,  and  then  force  of  habit  took  him 
over  to  the  stable.  "  What  have  you  done  to  set 
Jack  Ridydale  in  such  a  sweet  temper  ?  "  Saxon 
greeted  him,  and  the  other  men  merely  pestered 
him  with  questions  but  gave  him  no  blows. 

With  a  feeling  that  it  was  not  yet  time  to  pro- 
claim his  identity  to  all,  Hugh  answered  evasively, 
and  then,  because  it  was  irksome  to  be  idle,  he 


vra        INTERPOSITION   OF  JOHN   RIDYDALE        119 

watered  one  of  the  horses,  and,  as  Unger  had  bid- 
den him  the  day  before,  began  patching  up  a  head- 
stall. He  was  sitting  on  a  keg,  fumbling  with  a 
refractory  buckle,  when  Ridydale  bore  down  upon 
him  with  a  fierce,  "  What  are  you  about  ?  Put 
that  down  and  get  back  to  the  cottage." 

Arguing  that  if  he  were  still  a  stable-boy  Ridy- 
dale had  the  right  to  command  him,  and  if  he 
were  a  gentleman  Ridydale's  friendliness  had 
given  him  the  right  to  make  requests,  Hugh  laid 
aside  the  headstall  and  went  meekly  back  to  the 
cottage,  where  till  dinner  time  he  lounged  inglo- 
riously  on  the  doorstone.  After  the  noon  meal 
Ridydale,  very  sullen  and  wrathful,  beckoned  him 
outside  and  rated  him,  respectfully  but  severely. 
"  Tis  not  becoming  a  gentleman  like  you  to  fetch 
and  carry  for  those  dogs  of  troopers,"  he  explained. 
"  Truth,  you  seem  to  have  small  regard  for  the 
dignity  of  your  family,  sir." 

It  was  so  ludicrously  like  the  view  of  what  be- 
fitted a  gentleman  which  up  to  a  fortnight  ago  he 
himself  had  held  that  Hugh  could  not  help  smiling. 
"  Methinks  'tis  not  what  a  gentleman  does  but 
how  he  does  it  makes  the  disgrace,"  he  said. 

Ridydale  shook  his  head  and  looked  dubious, 
then,  coming  apparently  to  a  better  temper,  changed 
the  subject  by  offering  to  lend  Hugh  money  with 
which  to  buy  fresh  clothes.  "  The  colonel  will  be 
here  to-night,"  he  concluded,  "and  I've  a  plan  to 
wait  a  good-natured  moment  and  tell  him  of  you. 
I'm  thinking  he'll  ask  to  see  you,  and  you  should 
not  come  before  him  in  such  rags  as  these." 

But  Hugh  had  had  enough  of  borrowing  on 
the  chance  of  Colonel  Gwyeth's  making  repay- 


120  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

ment,  and  he  refused  the  loan;  if  the  colonel 
chose  to  provide  for  him,  he  reasoned  to  himself, 
he  need  wear  his  rags  but  few  hours  longer ;  and 
if  the  colonel  rebuffed  him  again  he  would  liefer 
have  rags  than  whole  clothes  and  a  debt  to  so 
short-pursed  a  man  as  a  corporal  of  carabineers. 
Ridydale  fairly  let  slip  his  self-control  at  the  boy's 
obstinate  refusal.  "If  'twere  not  for  your  red 
hair  and  your  trick  of  setting  your  lips  together, 
I'd  doubt  if  you  were  a  Gwyeth,"  he  broke  out  at 
last,  and  marched  away  to  the  stables  in  some 
temper. 

Whereat  Hugh  felt  angry,  then  grew  thought- 
ful, and,  reflecting  that  the  man,  for  all  his 
arbitrary  ways,  had  treated  him  with  real  kind- 
ness, wondered  if  he  might  not  have  somewhat 
tempered  his  refusal.  So,  when  he  next  saw 
Ridydale,  at  supper,  he  tried  to  talk  him  into 
good  humor  by  questioning  him  of  his  father, 
which  much  mollified  the  corporal,  and  then  of 
the  troop,  and  finally  of  the  progress  of  the  war. 
It  seemed  Colonel  Gwyeth's  force  had  shared 
with  Sir  William  Pleydall's  troop  some  brisk 
skirmishing  about  Worcester;  Hugh  wondered  if 
Frank  had  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  present, 
and  sought  to  get  news  of  the  Pleydalls  from 
Ridydale,  who,  when  he  learned  Hugh  had  ac- 
quaintance with  such  gentlemen,  looked  a  trifle 
more  favorably  upon  him.  The  boy  was  sorely 
tempted  to  tell  him  the  story  of  Dick  Strangwayes 
and  the  skirmish  at  the  "  Golden  Ram,"  but, 
after  all,  that  was  a  kind  of  self-glorification  that 
would  become  Bob  Saxon  better  than  Hugh 
Gwyeth.  So  he  held  his  peace,  and  was  thankful 


viii        INTERPOSITION   OF  JOHN   RIDYDALE       121 

that  he  had  got  Ridydale  into  a  mood  where,  if 
he  still  esteemed  him  rather  a  weak-spirited  fellow, 
he  did  not  utterly  despise  him. 

But  early  as  next  morning  it  was  Hugh's  ill 
luck  to  destroy  whatever  good  impression  he  had 
made.  Having  risen  late,  he  had  fetched  a  bucket 
of  water  up  to  the  chamber,  and,  stripped  to  the 
waist,  was  bathing  himself  with  much  splashing, 
when  Ridydale  unexpectedly  came  in.  "  The 
colonel  has  granted  to  speak  with  me  ere  noon," 
the  corporal  announced  his  business  at  once,  "  so 
you  shall  speedily  —  "  There  he  paused,  looking 
sharply  at  Hugh,  who  stood  sidewise  toward 
him,  then  strode  over  to  the  boy.  "  How  got 
you  those  fresh  scars  on  your  back  ? "  he  de- 
manded. 

"  No  matter,"  answered  Hugh,  facing  hastily 
toward  the  speaker. 

Ridydale  took  him  unceremoniously  by  the 
shoulders,  and  turned  him  round.  "  'Twas  done 
with  a  whip !  "  he  burst  out.  "What  means  this? 
Have  you  been  flogged  ? " 

"  Yes,"  Hugh  replied.  "  Now  have  the  good- 
ness to  take  your  hands  off  me." 

"  Was  it  done  here  at  the  stables  ? "  Ridydale 
persisted.  "  Answer  me,  master." 

"  Do  you  look  for  me  to  turn  tale-bearer  ? " 
Hugh  retorted. 

"  I  look  to  cut  some  combs  for  this,"  Ridydale 
stormed.  "  Though  you  lack  in  spirit  you  bear 
your  father's  name,  and  for  that  they  that  misuse 
you  shall  answer  —  " 

"  I  pray  you,  let  it  all  go,"  Hugh  interrupted. 
"  I  have  suffered  no  harm  —  " 


122  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

Ridydale  stamped  his  foot  down  on  the  floor. 
"  Harm,  quotha !  Why,  you  might  be  a  brat  out 
of  the  kennel  for  all  the  shame  you  take  from  it. 
Tell  me,  what  can  befall  a  man  of  gentle  birth 
that's  worse  harm  than  to  be  banged  by  a  pack  of 
knaves  ? " 

Hugh  busied  himself  in  pulling  on  his  shirt, 
and  made  no  reply. 

"  Well,  'tis  time  the  colonel  took  you  in  hand," 
Ridydale  blustered.  "  You  need  to  be  taught 
what  befits  a  gentleman." 

Then  he  went  noisily  out  of  the  room,  and 
Hugh  heard  him  clatter  down  the  ladder  from 
the  loft.  Looking  out  at  the  little  window  he 
saw  Ridydale  head  for  the  stables,  and  he  hoped 
the  man  might  not  make  inquiries  there  or  bring 
any  one  into  disgrace  for  what  had  befallen. 
Then,  as  he  turned  back  to  finish  dressing,  a  new 
alarm  seized  Hugh :  what  if  the  corporal,  in  his 
irritation,  should  refrain  from  speaking  for  him 
to  Colonel  Gwyeth  ?  But  next  moment  he  had 
quite  accepted  the  thought;  indeed,  he  seemed 
all  along  to  have  half  suspected  some  miscarriage 
would  destroy  his  faint  hope  of  the  last  few  hours. 
It  would  only  be  of  a  piece  with  all  that  happened 
to  him  since  he  set  out  from  Everscombe. 

So,  on  the  whole,  he  was  surprised  when  about 
an  hour  later  the  cottager's  wife  knocked  at  his 
door  with  the  news  that  a  trooper  was  below, 
come  to  take  him  before  the  colonel.  No,  he 
was  not  excited,  Hugh  told  himself,  for  he  cared 
not  what  the  issue  might  be ;  he  had  twice  gone 
so  eagerly  to  meet  his  father,  and  each  time 
been  so  bitterly  disappointed,  that  now,  whatever 


vra        INTERPOSITION   OF  JOHN   RIDYDALE        123 

good  fortune  might  be  before  him,  it  could  awake 
in  him  no  fresh  anticipation.  Yet,  for  all  that, 
he  came  down  the  ladder  rather  briskly,  and, 
when  he  found  himself  actually  setting  forth  to 
Colonel  Gwyeth's  quarters,  felt  a  thrill  of  some- 
thing like  apprehension. 

The  bit  of  walk  up  the  byway  and  along  the 
main  road  to  the  great  house,  the  back  of  which 
Hugh  knew  so  well  from  his  stable  days,  ended 
all  too  soon.  Still  repeating  to  himself  that  he 
did  not  care,  he  was  not  frightened,  Hugh  fol- 
lowed the  trooper  through  the  doorway ;  and  then 
the  door  had  closed,  he  was  left  alone  in  a  dim 
back  room,  and  suddenly  he  realized  that  in  sober 
truth  he  was  near  to  trembling  with  nervous  dread. 
He  was  afraid  of  that  flushed,  red-haired  man  who 
had  publicly  rejected  him ;  he  was  afraid  of  his 
roughness  and  more  afraid  of  his  tenderness,  and 
if  it  had  not  been  for  shame  at  running  away  so 
ignominiously  he  would  have  bolted  out  of  the 
house.  Since  that  was  not  to  be  thought  of  he 
sat  down  on  the  window-seat  and  studied  the 
dead  leaves  and  withered  flower-stalks  of  a  strip 
of  garden  outside.  Then  he  looked  about  the 
room  and  counted  the  oak  panels  in  the  walls 
and  the  diamond  panes  in  the  windows,  but  after 
all  his  eyes  strayed  to  the  door  opposite,  by  which 
his  guide  had  left  him,  and  he  found  himself 
listening  to  the  subdued  hum  of  men's  voices 
that  sounded  within.  Once  a  single  voice  rose 
choked  and  impatient,  and  immediately  after  feet 
scurried  down  the  passage  outside  the  entrance 
door.  Getting  up,  Hugh  tried  hard  to  stare  out 
at  the  window,  but  soon  found  himself  facing  the 


i24  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

door  and  listening.  All  within  was  quiet  now; 
indeed,  there  was  not  a  sound  nor  a  warning  when 
at  length  the  door  was  flung  open  and  Ridydale 
himself  beckoned  him  to  come  in.  "  Don't  be 
afeard,  sir,"  he  said  under  his  breath  as  Hugh 
passed  him,  and  even  in  the  midst  of  his  own 
agitation  Hugh  noted  that  the  corporal's  face  was 
anxious  and  his  manner  subdued. 

"  No  prompting,  Corporal  Ridydale,"  interrupted 
a  stern  voice  that  Hugh  remembered.  "  Come 
hither,  sirrah." 

Hugh  halted  where  he  was,  a  few  paces  from 
the  door,  and  looked  toward  the  fireplace.  Before 
the  hearth  Colonel  Gwyeth  was  standing  with  his 
hands  behind  him ;  the  set  of  his  lips  could  not 
be  judged  because  of  his  thick  beard,  but  his 
brows  were  contracted  so  his  eyes  looked  black 
beneath  them.  "  So  this  is  my  son,"  he  began 
more  quietly. 

Hugh  bowed  his  head  without  speaking;  for 
the  moment  he  dared  not  trust  his  voice. 

"  Come,  come,  hold  up  your  head,  man,"  the 
colonel  broke  out  impatiently;  and  then,  with  a 
visible  effort  to  maintain  his  quieter  tone,  "  Why 
have  you  not  come  to  me  ere  this  ? " 

"  I  did  not  court  a  second  rejection,  sir,"  Hugh 
answered,  with  a  steady  voice,  though  his  hands 
were  crushing  his  cap  into  a  little  wad. 

"  There  was  no  need  of  a  first  rejection,  as  you 
call  it.  You  could  have  spared  us  both  all  this 
shame  had  you  chosen  a  proper  time  and  place 
to  seek  me." 

"  I  had  come  some  miles  and  I  was  eager  to 
see  you,"  Hugh  answered  slowly. 


vra        INTERPOSITION  OF  JOHN   RIDYDALE       125 

"  Had  they  used  you  ill  at  Everscombe  that 
you  ran  away  ? "  the  colonel  broke  in. 

"  N-no,  sir,"  Hugh  must  admit  in  simple  justice. 
"  My  grandfather  always  used  me  rather  kindly." 

"  Gilbert  Oldesworth  ?  "  Colonel  Gwyeth  turned 
impatiently  from  the  fireplace.  "  'Twas  of  him,  I 
doubt  not,  you  had  your  good  Roundhead  doc- 
trine." 

"I  —  do  not  understand,  sir." 

"  The  doctrine  of  giving  your  cheek  unto  the 
smiter.  That  cut  on  your  face,  now,  was  that, 
too,  given  you  by  one  of  my  grooms  ?  " 

Hugh  felt  the  blood  sting  in  his  cheeks;  he 
looked  at  his  father  but  made  no  answer. 

"  Perchance,  sir  —  "  Ridydale  ventured  in  a  sub- 
dued voice. 

"  Be  quiet,  John.  —  I  have  heard  the  whole  his- 
tory of  your  last  fortnight,  Hugh  Gwyeth,  your 
honorable  associates,  your  gentle  bearing,  all  you 
have  done  to  uphold  the  credit  of  your  house." 

"  On  my  soul,  sir,  you  do  the  lad  wrong,"  Ridy- 
dale struck  in  rashly.  "  Though  his  way  be  not 
your  way,  he  is  but  young  and  —  " 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  John  Ridydale !  "  the  colo- 
nel cried,  banging  his  fist  down  on  the  table  be- 
side him.  "  And  for  you,  sirrah  Hugh,  if  you 
have  aught  to  say  for  yourself,  say  it  out  now." 

"  I  know  not  why  I  should  defend  myself,  sir." 
Now  they  would  hark  to  him  at  last,  Hugh  was 
amazed  to  find  how  hot  and  thick  his  words 
came.  "  I  know  not  what  I  have  done  shameful, 
unless  it  becomes  a  gentleman  better  to  starve 
than  to  work  for  his  bread." 

"  You  have  only  done  this  much,  that  you  have 


126  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

bitterly  disappointed  me,"  Colonel  Gwyeth  an- 
swered sharply.  "  For  my  gallant  young  gentle- 
man I  had  thought  on,  those  crop-eared  kinsmen 
of  mine  have  sent  me  a  snivelling  young  Round- 
head—" 

"  For  my  hair,  that  is  not  my  fault,"  Hugh 
blurted  out,  "and  for  snivelling,  you  have  no 
right  to  put  that  word  to  me.  You  may  ask  any 
one  —  " 

Colonel  Gwyeth  swept  back  one  arm  with  an 
impatient  movement  that  sent  some  loose  papers 
from  the  table  crackling  to  the  floor.  "  Can  you 
not  understand  now  what  you  have  done  ? "  he 
cried.  "  When  you  ran  away  from  your  school 
you  looked  for  me  to  make  a  soldier  of  you,  did 
you  not?  Tell  me  now,  how  can  I  set  over  my 
troopers  a  fellow  their  whips  have  lashed  ?  " 

For  the  moment  Hugh  found  no  words;  the 
full  significance  of  his  father's  speech,  the  to- 
tally new  view  of  his  weeks  of  discipline,  dis- 
mayed him  beyond  reply.  With  it  all  came  a 
feeling  that  he  was  bitterly  sorry  that  the  mat- 
ter had  gone  amiss ;  in  time  he  might  have 
come  to  like  the  red-haired  man,  who  was  disap- 
pointed in  him,  and  the  red-haired  man  might 
have  come  to  like  him.  Even  yet  it  was  possible 
he  might  win  the  colonel's  favor,  if  he  could  show 
his  mettle,  if  he  were  only  given  a  chance  !  Then 
he  heard  Ridydale  venture,  "  An't  like  you,  sir  —  " 

"  Enough,  Jack,"  the  colonel  replied,  with  a 
poor  assumption  of  a  casual  tone.  "  I  want  you 
now  to  take  Master  Hugh  here  and  get  him  fit- 
ting clothes  and  a  steady  horse.  By  to-morrow 
night  I  shall  have  procured  a  pass  —  " 


vra        INTERPOSITION   OF  JOHN   RIDYDALE        127 

"  What  mean  you  to  do  with  me  ?  "  Hugh  cried 
out,  making  a  step  toward  his  father. 

"  I  am  going  to  despatch  you  back  to  your 
kinsfolk  at  Everscombe." 

There  was  an  instant  of  silence ;  then,  "  You 
hold  me  so  mean-spirited  a  fellow  that  you  will 
not  keep  me  with  you? "  Hugh  asked  slowly. 

"  Your  ways  suit  your  Puritan  kindred  better 
than  they  suit  me,"  Gwyeth  answered,  fumbling 
among  the  papers  on  the  table.  "  'Tis  too  late 
now  for  me  to  mend  what  they  have  marred.  So 
I  shall  furnish  you  with  a  horse  and  clothes  —  " 

"  I  did  not  come  out  of  Warwickshire  to  beg  a 
new  coat  and  a  nag  of  you."  As  he  spoke,  Hugh 
half  turned  away  to  the  door  and  he  perceived 
now  that  Ridydale  was  violently  signing  to  him 
to  be  quiet  and  stay  where  he  was.  He  did  not 
heed,  but,  stepping  to  the  door,  laid  his  hand  on 
the  latch.  "  And  I  shall  not  go  back  to  Evers- 
combe, sir,"  he  finished  his  speech  deliberately. 

"  Tut,  tut !  You  are  too  old  for  such  childish- 
ness," answered  the  colonel,  with  exasperating 
contempt. 

"  I  will  not  go  to  Everscombe,"  Hugh  repeated. 

"  Do  you  turn  saucy,  you  young  crop-head  ?  " 
replied  Colonel  Gwyeth,  letting  slip  his  assump- 
tion of  calmness.  "  You  will  do  as  I  bid  you." 

"  You  have  no  right  to  say  '  do  this '  unto  me," 
Hugh  flung  back.  "  And  I  want  nothing  of  you,  — 
nothing  that  you  have  offered  me.  I  had  rather 
get  my  head  broke  in  a  troop  stable  twenty  times 
over.  But  I'll  leave  your  stable.  And  I'll  never 
trouble  you  more,  sir,  with  coming  unto  you, 
unless  you  choose  to  send  for  me  again."  All 


128  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

this  he  said  fast,  but  without  raising  his  voice, 
and  throughout  he  kept  his  eyes  fixed  on  the 
colonel,  who  stood  with  his  clinched  hand  resting 
on  the  table,  and  a  black  look  bn  his  face.  But 
Hugh  gave  him  no  time  to  answer,  just  said, 
"  Good  morrow,  sir,"  with  much  dignity,  set  his 
cap  on  his  head,  and  walked  out  of  the  room. 
He  took  great  pains  to  close  the  door  carefully 
behind  him. 

Once  outside  upon  the  highway,  he  became 
aware  that  his  face  was  burning  hot  and  every 
fibre  of  his  body  seemed  braced  as  for  actual 
battle.  Heading  blindly  toward  Shrewsbury  he 
tramped  along  fiercely,  while  he  went  over  and 
over  the  incidents  of  the  last  half-hour.  If  any 
man  but  his  own  father  had  dared  speak  so  con- 
temptuously and  so  untruly  of  him !  No,  if  it 
had  been  another  than  his  father,  it  would  not 
have  mattered.  But  that  Colonel  Gwyeth,  of  all 
men,  should  hold  him  such  a  miserable  fellow, 
and  give  him  no  chance  to  prove  himself  better! 

Just  then  he  heard  behind  him  Ridydale's 
voice:  "Master  Hugh!  Stay  a  moment,  sir." 
The  corporal  had  plainly  run  from  the  house, 
but,  so  soon  as  Hugh  halted,  he  sobered  his 
pace  and  came  up  at  a  more  dignified  gait. 
"  On  my  soul,  sir,  I  meant  not  to  put  all  awry," 
he  broke  out  at  once. 

"Did  you  bear  the  tale  of  that  flogging  unto 
him  ?  "  Hugh  asked  hotly. 

"  Ay.  But  not  as  you  think,  sir,  on  my  honor." 
Ridydale  strode  at  Hugh's  side  while  he  poured 
out  the  story:  "  I  had  taken  me  to  the  stables 
and  dragged  the  truth  from  the  knaves  there. 


vm        INTERPOSITION   OF  JOHN   RIDYDALE        129 

Well,  I'll  settle  that  score  with  Jeff  Hardwyn. 
I  was  hot  with  it  all  when  I  came  to  the 
colonel,  and  he  bespeaks  me  very  careless  and 
cool,  if  'twas  his  son  indeed,  belike  in  time,  and 
so  on.  I  might  ha'  known  'twas  but  the  way  of 
him  and  he  would  yet  make  it  right,  but  I  blurted 
out  he'd  best  move  quickly  for  his  son's  sake,  not 
leave  him  to  be  buffeted  by  every  cullion  in  his 
stables.  Well,  he  got  the  whole  story  of  me  then, 
sir,  and  off  he  goes  into  one  of  his  fine  Gwyeth 
rages,  and  packs  off  Rodes  after  you,  and  rates 
every  one  in  the  house  on  whom  he  can  put 
hands  until  you  come.  And  I  left  him  in  such 
another  rage.  WThy  in  Heaven's  name  did  you 
go  about  to  defy  him  so,  sir  ? " 

"  Because  he  drove  me  to  it,"  Hugh  retorted, 
and  pressed  on  with  his  face  set  to  the  front. 

"  Well,  no  one  is  driving  you  now  that  you  keep 
such  a  pace.  Whither  are  you  going,  an't  like 
you?" 

"  Shrewsbury.  To  seek  in  all  the  troop  stables 
till  I  find  those  who  will  employ  me." 

"  Nay,  nay,  lad,  come  back  with  me,  if  you  have 
it  in  heart  to  forgive  me.  On  my  soul,  I  meant 
not  so  to  dash  your  fortunes.  By  the  Lord,  I've 
a  liking  for  you,  sir,  in  spite  of  your  meek  bear- 
ing. And  I  doubt  not  your  father  would  see 
there  was  some  good  in  you,  in  time.  Only  come 
back,  and  mayhap  he  —  " 

"  Before  I'd  beg  of  Colonel  Gwyeth  now,  I'd  go 
carry  a  musket  for  a  common  foot  soldier,"  Hugh 
answered. 

"  Well,  you've  not  your  father's  spirit,"  Ridy- 
dale  jerked  out  impatiently. 


1 30  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Hugh  turned  on  him :  "  I  trust  I've  not.  I 
trust  I'll  never  live  to  cast  off  a  son  of  my  own." 

At  that  Ridydale  stared  blankly,  then  stopped 
short  and  burst  out  laughing.  "  By  the  Lord, 
you  are  the  colonel  over  again,  sir,  whether  it  like 
you  or  not !  My  faith,  and  he  does  not  realize  it 
even  now,  no  more  than  I  did.  Why,  there's 
mettle  in  you,  sir,  after  all.  Now  come  back." 

But  Hugh  very  plainly  showed  his  whole  intent 
was  turned  to  Shrewsbury,  so  at  length  Ridy- 
dale abruptly  yielded.  "  I'll  come  along  with 
you,"  he  offered.  "  Very  like  I  can  find  employ- 
ment for  you  there,  sir.  If  you  care  to  trust 
unto  me  — " 

"  Ay,  and  I  thank  you  too,"  Hugh  answered, 
touched  for  the  moment,  till  he  remembered  that 
Ridydale  cared  for  him  only  as  he  would  have 
cared  for  a  dog,  had  it  borne  the  name  of  Gwyeth. 

After  that  they  trudged  on  in  silence,  past  the 
huddled,  outlying  houses,  through  the  west  gate 
of  Shrewsbury,  and  so  into  the  crowd  and  con- 
fusion of  the  garrison  streets.  It  was  somewhat 
past  noon,  Hugh  judged  by  the  position  of  the 
sun,  and  then  the  sun  was  shut  out,  as  they  turned 
into  a  narrow  byway  where  the  mud  was  deep  in 
the  shadow  of  the  tall  houses.  "  This  has  not 
much  the  look  of  a  troop  stable,"  Hugh  suggested, 
as  Ridydale  halted  and  knocked  at  the  dark  rear 
door  of  what  seemed  a  considerable  mansion. 

But  Ridydale  was  speaking  a  word  aside  to  the 
serving  man  who  opened,  and  paid  no  heed. 
Presently  he  stepped  in,  bidding  Hugh  follow, 
and  then,  leaving  him  alone  in  a  dingy  anteroom, 
he  walked  away  with  the  servant.  Seating  him- 


vra        INTERPOSITION   OF  JOHN   RIDYDALE        131 

self  on  a  bench  by  the  wall  Hugh  tried  to  run 
over  the  morning's  events,  and  then  to  put  them 
by  and  think  only  of  what  was  before  him :  stable- 
boy,  trooper  one  day,  perhaps.  Only  it  was  not 
a  good  thing  to  hope  forward  to,  so  he  drummed 
his  finger-tips  on  the  bench  and  wondered  why 
Ridydale  delayed. 

Just  then  there  came  a  quick,  light  step  outside 
the  inner  door.  "  Where  is  he  ? "  a  shrill  voice  cried. 
The  door  was  kicked  open,  and  there  plunged  in 
headlong  a  slim  figure  in  blue.  "  Hugh,  you  scoun- 
drel !  Where  have  you  been  ?  Why  did  you  not 
seek  me  out  at  first?  Hang  me  if  I  be  not  glad 
to  see  you,  old  lad." 

"  Frankie  Pleydall ! "  was  all  Hugh  could  get 
out  for  the  arms  about  his  neck  that  were  near  to 
strangling  him. 


CHAPTER   IX 

THE    WAY    TO    WAR 

"  THAT  was  friendly  conduct  of  you !  "  Frank 
Pleydall,  having  ended  his  last  hot  tirade,  suffered 
himself  to  fall  back  once  more  with  his  shoulders 
against  one  arm  of  his  big  chair  and  his  legs  hang- 
ing over  the  other.  "  I  take  it,  had  not  that  tall 
corporal  of  yours  come  hither  and  opened  up  the 
matter  to  us,  you'd  have  gone  sweat  in  a  stable, 
eh?  On  your  honor,  Hugh,  did  you  enjoy  the 
life?" 

"  Would  you  ? "  Hugh  retorted,  and  then,  as 
he  looked  at  Frank's  curls  and  fair  skin,  the 
impossibility  of  his  going  through  such  experience 
came  home  to  him.  He  shrugged  his  shoulders 
and,  turning  to  the  mirror,  went  on  dragging  the 
comb  through  his  rebellious  hair,  rather  slowly, 
for  to  be  cleanly  and  freshly  clad  was  an  unwonted 
sensation,  to  enjoy  which  he  was  willing  to  dally 
a  trifle  in  dressing.  From  time  to  time  he  paused 
to  glance  at  Frank,  who  lounged  and  chatted,  just 
as  he  had  done  in  the  old  days  at  school,  or  to 
look  about  the  dark  room,  with  great  bed  and 
heavy  furniture,  that  recalled  to  him  his  grand- 
father's chamber  at  Everscombe.  After  all,  he 
still  felt  at  home  in  well-ordered  life ;  "  outcast " 
was  not  stamped  upon  him  for  all  time.  In 

132 


CH.  DC  THE  WAY  TO  WAR  133 

Frank's  stockings  and  shirt,  which  was  rather 
scant  for  him,  and  a  certain  Cornet  Griffith's  gray 
breeches,  and  another  officer's  half-worn  shoes, 
swept  up  in  the  general  levy  Frank  had  made  on 
the  nearest  wardrobes,  he  thought  himself  for  a 
moment  the  same  young  gentleman  who  had  left 
Everscombe  a  month  before.  Then,  chancing  to 
meet  the  blue  eyes  that  looked  back  at  him  out 
of  the  mirror,  he  realized  this  was  not  the  face 
he  used  to  know ;  this  face  was  thin,  so  the  jaws 
seemed  squarer,  and  there  was  a  firmer  set  to 
the  lips,  and  a  new  depth  to  the  eyes.  A  slight 
cut  on  one  cheek  and  a  bruise  above  one  eye 
he  noted,  too,  without  great  resentment  against 
those  who  had  given  them ;  such  marks  would 
pass  quickly,  he  knew,  but  the  endurance  and 
obedience  he  had  acquired  with  them  would 
remain. 

"  I  should  think  it  would  pleasure  you  to  study 
that  well-favored  face,"  Frank  chuckled  lazily. 
"  When  you're  done,  sir,  get  on  your  coat,  and 
I'll  take  you  to  my  father." 

Hugh  pulled  on  Cornet  Griffith's  gray  jacket, 
which  was  somewhat  too  large  for  him,  and  stood 
turning  back  the  long  sleeves.  "  What  a  tall 
fellow  you  seem ! "  his  comrade  broke  out,  bring- 
ing his  feet  down  to  the  floor  and  sitting  forward 
in  his  chair.  "  On  my  conscience,  I  could  swear 
you  were  more  than  six  months  elder  than  I." 

"  So  could  I,"  Hugh  answered  thoughtfully. 

"  Well,  for  all  that  you  are  not  to  treat  me  like 
a  boy  as  the  other  men  do ;  you're  nothing  but 
a  lad  yourself." 

Hugh   laughed,  and  put   his   hand   down   on 


134  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

Frank's  shoulder.  "  We'll  be  good  comrades  as 
we  ever  have  been,"  he  said.  "  I  shall  never  for- 
get how  kindly  you  have  used  me  this  day." 

"Oh,  hang  all  that!"  Frank  put  in  hastily. 
"  You'd  do  the  like  for  me.  And  'tis  pleasure 
for  me  to  have  you  with  me.  You  can  share  my 
chamber,  —  there's  space  enough  for  one  to  be 
lonesome,  —  and  we'll  go  to  the  wars  together, 
eh?" 

The  realization  of  part  of  the  boyish  plan  he 
had  brought  with  him-  from  Everscombe  pleased 
Hugh  gravely,  but  he  had  been  too  often  dis- 
appointed to  clutch  eagerly  at  any  hope,  so  he 
only  said,  "  I'd  like  it  right  well,  —  if  your  father 
wish  me  to  stay." 

"  If  I  wish  it,  he  will,"  Frank  answered  con- 
fidently, and  so  they  went  arm  in  arm  down  the 
stairs. 

Large  as  the  house  was,  Sir  William  and  the 
officers  of  his  troop  contrived  to  fill  it  only  too 
full,  Hugh  concluded,  after  Frank  had  haled 
him,  to  his  great  embarrassment,  into  several 
rooms,  and  presented  him  formally  to  all  the  men 
on  whom  he  could  lay  hands.  Of  the  number  he 
best  remembered  a  dry-spoken  Captain  Turner, 
who  told  him,  with  an  implication  that  made 
Hugh's  face  redden,  that  he  ought  in  justice  to 
notify  the  rebels  that  he  had  joined  the  king.  He 
remembered,  too,  a  long-legged  Cornet  Griffith, 
whose  boyish  face  at  sight  of  him  took  on  such  a 
rueful  look  that  Hugh  suspected  the  loan  of  the 
gray  clothes  had  been  a  forced  one.  He  ventured 
a  private  expostulation  to  Frank,  who  merely 
laughed :  "  Oh,  Ned  Griffith  is  a  cousin  of  mine, 


a  THE  WAY  TO  WAR  135 

so  he  ought  to  be  glad  to  lend  me  his  goods. — 
And  here  I  have  found  my  father  out  at  last." 

With  that  he  dragged  Hugh  by  the  sleeve  into 
a  retired  parlor,  where  Sir  William  Pleydall,  a 
stout  florid  man  of  near  sixty,  was  sitting  at  a 
table  dictating  to  a  secretary.  "  Here  is  Hugh 
Gwyeth,  sir,  of  whom  Colonel  Gwyeth's  corporal 
told  you,"  Frank  announced.  "  You'll  entertain 
him  as  a  gentleman  volunteer,  will  you  not, 
sir?" 

"  Will  you  be  silent,  Francis,  till  I  have  done 
with  this  piece  of  work  ? "  Sir  William  burst  out. 

Frank  knelt  down  on  a  chair  with  his  elbows 
on  the  table  and  his  chin  in  his  hands,  so  the 
candlelight  fell  across  his  girlishly  fair  face.  "  I 
am  right  sorry,  sir,"  he  began  winningly,  "  I  did 
not  mark  you  were  busied.  I  had  thought  — 
you  would  gladly  aid  a  friend  of  mine.  Have  I 
offended  you  greatly,  sir  ?  " 

"  No,  Frank,"  Sir  William  answered  hastily,  and, 
putting  by  the  papers  he  held,  motioned  Hugh  to 
come  over  to  him.  "  I  remember  you  very  well, 
sir,"  he  began.  "  You  were  home  with  Frank  one 
Michaelmas  time.  So  you  ran  away  from  that 
school  ?  'T was  very  well  done  of  you.  That 
man  Masham  is  a  cozening,  foul-mouthed  knave 
of  a  crop-headed  Puritan."  Sir  William's  face 
flushed  and  Frank  made  haste  to  change  the  sub- 
ject. "You  promised  me  Hugh  should  stay  with 
me,  sir,  you'll  recollect." 

"  If  he  care  to,"  Sir  William  made  answer.  "  You 
look  sober  enough,  Master  Gwyeth,  to  keep  my 
lad  in  proper  behavior." 

"  I  would  gladly  serve  you,  Sir  William,  in  any 


136  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

way  I  could,"  Hugh  said  earnestly.  "  I  think  I 
could  fight—" 

Sir  William  began  laughing.  "  Call  yourself  a 
gentleman  volunteer,  if  'tis  any  satisfaction  to 
you,"  he  said,  and  seemed  about  to  end  the  con- 
versation; but,  after  a  second  glance  at  Hugh, 
asked  abruptly  in  a  lower  tone,  "  Between  our- 
selves, sir,  what  vice  was  there  in  you  wherefore 
your  father  would  not  entertain  you  ?  " 

"  I  did  not  chance  to  please  him,"  Hugh  an- 
swered. 

"  But  you  are  his  only  son,  are  you  not  ?  "  asked 
Sir  William,  looking,  not  at  Hugh,  but  at  Frank, 
who  was  still  kneeling  by  the  table. 

"  Yes,  Sir  William,"  Hugh  replied,  with  his  eyes 
suddenly  lowered. 

The  baronet  was  silent  a  moment,  then,  "  Stay 
with  us  as  long  as  you  please,  my  lad,"  he  said  in 
a  kinder  tone  than  he  had  yet  used,  and  with  that, 
abruptly  taking  up  his  papers,  turned  again  to  his 
secretary. 

Hugh  came  out  in  silence  from  the  little  parlor, 
and  for  a  time,  while  he  enjoyed  the  realization 
that  he  had  not  lost  a  boy's  capacity  for  feeling 
happy  and  hopeful,  could  make  no  reply  to  Frank's 
brisk  chatter.  But,  before  the  evening  was  over, 
he  made  amends  to  Master  Pleydall,  for,  snugly 
settled  in  a  window-seat  with  his  friend,  he 
recounted  to  him  not  only  the  distinctions  he 
hoped  to  win  in  the  war,  but  all  that  had  be- 
fallen him  in  the  last  six  months.  Frank,  hug- 
ging his  knees  in  his  excitement,  wished  audibly 
he  had  been  with  Hugh  to  run  away;  two  days 
without  food  seemed  so  slight  a  thing  when  told. 


DC  THE  WAY  TO  WAR  137 

But  Strangwayes'  share  in  events  surprised  him 
enough  to  make  him  leave  clasping  his  knees  and 
sit  up  straight:  "Met  my  Cousin  Dick?  What 
good  fortune  for  you  !  He  used  to  be  a  gay  kindly 
fellow,  the  best  liked  of  all  my  father's  nephews. 
What  manner  of  man  is  he  grown  now  ?  " 

Hugh's  eager  account  made  Frank  look  dubi- 
ous. "  Very  like  when  he  comes  again  you'll  not 
wish  to  be  my  comrade  any  more,"  he  suggested 
jealously. 

"  You're  somewhat  of  a  fool,  Frank,"  Hugh 
answered  candidly.  "  Tell  me  now,  have  you  had 
news  of  Dick  of  late  ?  " 

l<  Ay,  he's  still  with  Butler's  troop ;  we  only 
learned  that  on  coming  out  of  Worcestershire 
two  days  back.  He  is  but  just  recovered  from 
his  wound  and  fever — " 

"  Do  you  think,  Frank,"  Hugh  interrupted, 
"to-morrow  we  might  walk  over  to  the  village 
and  see  him  ?  " 

"  I  take  it  you'll  not,"  Frank  retorted.  "  Where 
have  you  kept  yourself  from  the  news  ?  To- 
morrow we  march  southward  to  flay  the  skin  off 
that  old  fox,  the  rebel  Earl  of  Essex.  We'll  make 
short  work  of  him,  and  then  — "  he  trailed  off 
into  an  exact  exposition  of  the  way  the  war  would 
go,  which  ended  only  at  bedtime. 

Next  day,  as  Frank  had  promised,  in  a  keen, 
clear  weather  that  made  the  throngs  of  troop- 
horses  prance  and  gave  a  vividness  to  every  bright 
coat  and  sword-hilt,  the  southward  march  began. 
Hugh,  riding  forth  bravely  with  Frank,  Captain 
Turner,  and  others  of  Sir  William's  officers,  felt 
he  could  have  shouted  for  mere  pleasure  in  the 


138  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

sight  of  the  plunging  horses,  the  troops  of  men, 
and  the  throngs  of  friendly  townsfolk  that  lined 
the  streets  of  Shrewsbury.  In  every  fibre  of 
him  was  a  bracing  sensation,  not  only  from  the 
crisp  air  and  the  sunlight,  but  from  the  mere  feel- 
ing of  the  horse  moving  beneath  him  and  the 
ordered  motion  all  about  him  of  men  and  beasts. 
Now  first  it  came  over  him  that,  even  if  he  might 
not  serve  with  his  father,  he  was  glad  that  he  was 
one  of  his  Majesty's  great  marching  army,  bound 
to  fight  for  the  king. 

At  the  east  gate,  by  which  all  must  pass,  horses 
and  men  were  wedged  thickly,  so  presently  Hugh 
found  himself  forced  to  one  side  of  the  gateway, 
where  his  progress  was  checked.  An  ammunition 
wagon  had  broken  down  and  blocked  the  way 
ahead,  the  word  ran  through  the  crowd,  whereat 
some  men  swore,  and  others,  laughing,  took  the 
delay  merrily.  While  they  were  waiting  thus, 
an  officer  with  one  trooper  attending  rode  head- 
long into  the  thick  of  them  and  there  stuck  fast. 
"  You'll  need  slacken  pace,  sir,  you'll  find,"  Turner 
called  to  him. 

"  I've  no  wish  to  show  my  steed's  quality,"  re- 
plied the  other.  "  But  I'd  fain  be  with  a  troop 
of  mine  that's  somewhere  ahead  on  the  road  'twixt 
here  and  Staffordshire."  He  impatiently  thrust 
back  the  flapping  brim  of  his  felt  hat,  and  Hugh 
was  made  sure  of  what  he  had  guessed  by  the 
voice,  that  it  was  Colonel  Gwyeth  himself. 

At  first  he  felt  a  kindfof  trembling,  which  was 
foolish,  he  told  himself;  for  he  no  longer  feared 
the  man.  So  he  did  not  even  try  to  urge  his 
horse  forward,  but  suffered  the  beast  to  keep  his 


ix  THE  WAY  TO  WAR  139 

stand,  while  he  gazed  fixedly  at  the  colonel.  All 
through  the  press  ran  a  swaying  motion,  which 
soon  forced  Colonel  Gwyeth,  still  in  loud  speech 
with  Turner,  knee  to  knee  with  Hugh,  and  at  the 
touch  he  faced  toward  him.  Hugh  felt  a  thrill 
go  through  him,  but  he  looked  his  father  squarely 
in  the  eyes  and,  lifting  his  hat  a  trifle,  said,  "  Good 
morrow,  sir." 

"In  the  name  of  the  fiend ! "  Gwyeth  broke 
out;  he  had  to  turn  in  his  saddle  to  say  it,  for 
the  movement  in  the  throng  had  now  brought 
him  level  with  the  nose  of  Hugh's  horse.  "  Well, 
sir,  you  seem  fully  able  to  fend  for  yourself." 

So  he  was  swept  away,  and  next  instant  Ridy- 
dale  following  him  was  up  alongside.  "  'Tis  all 
well,  Master  Hugh  ? "  he  asked  in  a  low  tone  as 
he  brushed  by. 

"  Ay,  thanks  to  you,"  Hugh  replied,  and  then 
Ridydale  was  forced  away,  so  he  lost  him  in  the 
ruck  of  horsemen.  After  that  he  gave  heed  only 
to  edging  his  own  beast  forward  till  they  were  out 
upon  the  highway,  where  they  found  the  road  so 
nearly  choked  with  the  riders  of  their  troop,  which 
they  presently  overtook,  that  a  swift  pace  was  still 
out  of  the  question.  This  was  somewhat  of  a 
relief  to  Hugh,  for  the  borrowed  sorrel  which  he 
bestrode  was  of  no  great  speed,  and  made  him 
think  sadly  of  the  bay  horse  he  had  ridden  on  the 
headlong  dash  from  the  "  Golden  Ram."  Frank, 
however,  who  was  capitally  mounted  on  his  roan 
mare,  The  Jade,  so  nametl  for  her  wretched  tem- 
per, lamented  all  the  morning  that  he  had  not 
space  sufficient  to  show  his  steed's  fine  paces. 

About  noon,  as  they  passed  through  the  village 


140  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

where  Hugh  had  met  with  Butler's  troop,  he 
coaxed  Frank  out  of  the  ranks  and,  with  an  eager 
hope  of  seeing  Dick  Strangwayes  again,  headed 
for  the  inn.  But  the  place  was  filled  with  thirsty 
troopers,  so  the  tapsters  were  too  busy  to  pay 
much  heed  to  the  boys  till  Frank  tried  bribery. 
Then  they  learned  that  the  day  before  Butler's 
dragoons  had  started  southward  to  capture  some 
arms  at  a  Puritan  country-seat ;  and,  though  he 
looked  scarce  fit  to  ride,  the  gentleman  who  had 
lain  ill  at  the  house  had  gone  with  them.  "  Well, 
Cousin  Dick  must  be  a  hardy  fellow,"  said  Frank, 
as  the  two  boys  got  to  horse  again.  "  Though,  to 
be  sure,  all  the  gentlemen  of  our  family  are."  He 
flung  out  his  chest  as  full  as  possible  while  he 
spoke,  and  presently  got  his  hat  tilted  over  one 
ear  at  a  swaggering  angle. 

Thus  the  march  went  on,  by  south  and  east, 
over  ground  Hugh  had  already  once  ridden  at  a 
time  that  now  seemed  immeasurable  years  behind 
him.  He  had  let  his  life  at  Shrewsbury  and  his 
father's  rejection  of  him  slip  backward  in  his 
memory,  till  now  he  found  himself  living  heartily 
in  the  present.  Existence  meant  not  to  worry  at 
what  was  past,  but  to  sleep  in  an  inn  bed  or  on  a 
cottage  floor,  whatever  quarters  fell  to  the  troop, 
to  eat  what  fare  Sir  William's  officers  could  pro- 
cure, and  through  all,  wet  or  dry,  to  ride  on 
whither  the  king  led. 

Very  early  in  the  march  they  entered  the  hamlet 
of  the  "  Golden  Ram,"  where  Hugh,  as  he  held 
it  to  be  his  duty,  sought  out  Sir  William  and  laid 
before  him  the  story  of  Emry's  treachery.  The 
baronet,  after  some  moments  of  explosive  swear- 


DC  THE  WAY  TO  WAR  141 

ing,  sent  men  to  apprehend  the  fellow,  and  bade 
Hugh  go  to  guide  them.  But  when  they  came  to 
the  inn  they  found  that  at  their  approach  Constant- 
In-Business  Emry  had  discreetly  removed,  and 
there  was  left  only  the  red-cheeked  maid  with  the 
black  eyes,  who  joked  and  flirted  with  the  troopers 
while  she  drew  them  ale.  At  first  she  did  not 
recognize  Hugh,  and,  when  she  did,  seemed  to 
take  little  interest  in  him;  but,  as  the  men  tramped 
out,  she  ran  after  him,  and  catching  his  arm  asked 
him  in  a  whisper  how  the  dark  gentleman  fared, 
and  if  he  had  been  hurt  in  the  scuffle.  The 
news  of  Dick's  illness  made  her  half  sniffle,  which 
touched  Hugh  so  that,  having  no  money  to  give 
her,  he  tried  his  friend's  tactics  and  kissed  her. 
Whereat  the  wench,  after  a  feint  at  boxing  his 
ears,  darted  back  to  the  door  of  the  common 
room,  where  she  paused,  laughing  shrilly.  "  Ride 
away,  my  lad,"  she  called  after  him.  "  It  takes 
more  than  jack-boots  and  spurs  to  make  a  man." 

Hugh  went  back  to  his  horse  in  some  mortifi- 
cation ;  it  might  be  well  enough  for  Dick  Strang- 
wayes  to  be  on  good  terms  with  all  women,  but 
he  had  no  will  to  meddle  farther  in  such  matters. 

Yet,  scarcely  a  week  later,  he  found  himself 
seated  at  a  table  in  a  stuffy  chamber,  trying  by 
the  flicker  of  a  guttering  candle  to  blot  out  a 
letter  to  a  girl.  For  the  army  was  now  among 
the  Warwickshire  fields,  and  the  sight  of  home 
country  brought  back  to  Hugh's  thoughts  Evers- 
combe  and  the  good  friend  he  had  left  there.  So, 
while  Frank  jeered  from  the  bed  about  his  sweet- 
heart, and  urged  him  to  put  out  the  candle  and  lie 
down,  Hugh,  sitting  in  his  shirt-sleeves,  painfully 


i42  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

scrawled  some  ill-spelt  lines  to  Lois  Campion. 
Much  had  happened  that  would  only  make  her 
miserable  to  know,  so  he  spoke  little  of  his  father, 
only  told  her  he  was  well  and  happy,  and,  as  Colonel 
Gwyeth  could  offer  him  no  place  in  his  troop,  was 
serving  with  Sir  William  Pleydall.  He  sent  his 
duty  to  his  grandfather,  too,  and  his  obedient 
faithful  services  to  her. 

Just  there  Frank  sat  up  in  bed,  and,  throwing  a 
boot  at  the  candle,  contrived  to  overturn  the  ink- 
bottle.  Shutting  his  lips,  Hugh  mopped  up  the 
stuff,  then,  still  without  speaking,  began  to  un- 
dress. "  Now  you've  lost  your  temper,  Master 
Roundhead,"  Frank  teased;  but  Hugh  held  his 
tongue  till  he  had  blown  out  the  candle  and 
stretched  himself  in  the  bed,  then  said  only, 
"  Good  night." 

He  was  almost  asleep  when  Frank  began 
shaking  him.  "  Hugh,  prithee,  good  Hugh," 
he  coaxed,  "are  you  truly  angry?  Pray  you, 
forgive  me,  Hugh." 

"Don't  I  always?"  Hugh  answered,  half  waked. 
"  Go  to  sleep,  Frank." 

So  they  began  next  morning  on  as  good  terms 
as  ever,  and  before  night  had  barely  avoided  two  of 
those  quarrels  which  Frank  made  a  daily  incident 
to  friendship.  But  by  the  following  sunrise  even 
Frank  was  too  busied  with  other  matters  for  such 
diversion.  "  The  rumor's  abroad  that  we're  to 
bang  old  Essex  soon,"  he  broke  out,  as  he  and 
Hugh  rode  a  little  before  Sir  William's  troop 
along  the  stony  Warwickshire  road. 

"  We've  been  going  to  ever  since  we  left 
Shrewsbury,"  Hugh  replied.  "  I  hope —  Perhaps 


ix  THE  WAY  TO  WAR  143 

if  I  did  somewhat  in  battle  some  one  would  be- 
stow a  commission  on  me ;  I'd  like  not  to  tax 
your  hospitality  longer."  Then  he  repented  of 
the  last  as  an  ungracious  speech. 

But  Frank,  without  heeding,  ran  on :  "I  hope  I 
shall  get  a  share  in  this  work,  and  I  will,  if  I  lose 
my  head  for  it.  You'll  understand,  Hugh,  my 
father  let  me  have  no  share  in  the  fighting  in 
Worcestershire ;  they  left  me  at  home  when  they 
went  out  to  Powick  Bridge.  On  my  honor, 
Hugh,  I  wish  sometimes  one  or  two  of  my  sisters 
had  been  boys.  'Tis  a  fine  thing,  no  doubt,  to  be 
sole  heir  to  a  great  property,  but  a  man  would 
like  a  little  liberty  now  and  again,  not  to  be  ever 
kept  close  and  out  of  harm  like  a  girl.  Now  I'll 
lay  you  any  amount  of  money  my  father  will 
strive  to  keep  me  from  this  battle." 

Hugh  did  not  look  properly  sympathetic,  so 
Frank  added  pettishly:  "And  he'll  rate  you  no 
higher  than  me,  so  if  you  are  to  have  a  hand  in 
the  fighting  and  get  you  a  commission,  you  must 
look  to  yourself." 

None  the  less  Hugh  cherished  a  suspicion  that 
if  a  battle  took  place  under  his  very  nose  he 
would  be  aware  of  it,  and  in  that  hope  he  went 
trustingly  to  sleep  next  night.  Sir  William's 
troop  was  quartered  about  a  small  manor  house, 
some  three  miles  to  the  west  of  Edgcott,  where 
the  king  lay.  Hugh  noted  the  place  merely  as 
one  that  gave  comfortable  harborage,  for  he  and 
Frank  were  assigned  a  chamber  to  themselves, 
where  they  went  promptly  and  wearily  to  bed. 
But  barely  asleep,  as  it  seemed,  a  troublesome 
dream  disturbed  Hugh ;  he  thought  himself  back 


144  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

in  the  Shrewsbury  stables,  where  the  horses  had 
all  turned  restless  and  stamped  unceasingly  in 
their  stalls.  Then  of  a  sudden  he  sat  up  in 
bed,  broad  awake,  just  in  time  to  see  the  door 
kicked  open,  and  Griffith,  with  his  coat  in  one 
hand  and  a  candle  in  the  other,  stumble  in.  "  Up 
with  you,  youngsters  !  "  he  cried.  "  Essex  is 
coming." 

"  Essex  ?  "  Frank  whimpered  sleepily.  "  We'll 
kill  him." 

"  Leave  us  the  candle,  Cornet  Griffith,"  Hugh 
cried,  springing  up  and  beginning  to  fling  on  his 
clothes.  "  How  near  are  the  enemy?  "  His  teeth 
were  chattering  with  the  cold  of  the  room  and  a 
nervous  something  that  made  his  fingers  shake. 

"  The  Lord  knows ! "  Griffith  replied,  struggling 
into  his  coat.  "  The  word  to  get  under  arms  has 
but  just  come." 

"  Where  is  my  other  stocking  ?  "  Frank  put  in 
piteously  from  his  side  of  the  bed.  "  Hugh,  have 
you  seen  it  ?  " 

"  Stockings  !  "  the  cornet  ejaculated.  "  There's 
a  fellow  would  wait  for  lace  cuffs  ere  he  went  to 

fight.- 

Thus  warned,  Hugh  put  his  bare  feet  into  his 
riding-boots,  and,  fastening  his  jacket  without  the 
formality  of  donning  a  shirt,  ran  for  the  door  at 
Griffith's  heels.  Frank,  after  an  unheeded  en- 
treaty to  wait  for  him,  tumbled  into  his  shirt  and 
breeches,  and  came  headlong  after  out  into  the 
corridor. 

Below  in  the  great  hall,  under  the  dim  light  of 
candles,  men  were  jostling  and  shouting  and  pull- 
ing on  coats  and  buckling  sword-belts,  as  they 


DC  THE  WAY  TO  WAR  145 

passed  hurriedly  out  by  the  black  open  door. 
Running  blindly  after  the  crowd,  Hugh  collided 
by  the  entrance  with  Captain  Turner,  who  came 
in  jauntily,  albeit  he  was  in  his  shirt-sleeves. 
"  How  near  are  the  enemy,  Captain?  "  Hugh  cried, 
catching  him  by  the  arm. 

Turner  looked  down  at  him  with  a  dry  smile. 
"  Not  so  near,  Gwyeth,  but  you'll  have  time  to 
wash  your  face  ere  they  come  up." 

Even  the  mocking  tone  could  not  recall  Hugh 
to  his  self-composure,  but  he  ran  on  out  of  the 
house,  where  he  was  jostled  by  troopers  and 
nearly  trampled  on  by  horses  that  were  being  led 
up.  Getting  out  of  harm's  way  at  last  in  an  angle 
of  the  front  of  the  house,  he  became  aware  that 
the  stars  were  few  in  the  sky  and  on  the  horizon 
a  light  streak  showed ;  it  must  be  nearing  dawn. 
Just  then  he  heard  the  deadened  sound  of  a 
horse's  being  rapidly  ridden  over  turf,  and  then  a 
strange  officer  came  galloping  up  to  the  very  door. 
Running  thither,  Hugh  saw  him  disappear  into 
an  inner  room,  whence  a  little  later  Sir  William 
Pleydall,  a  bit  excited  but  carefully  accoutred, 
came  forth  with  the  announcement  that  the  enemy 
were  near  by  at  Kineton,  and  the  troop  was  to 
hold  itself  in  readiness  to  march  to  meet  them. 

There  was  sufficient  time  to  follow  Captain 
Turner's  advice,  so  Hugh  and  Frank  went  back 
to  their  chamber  and,  while  their  candle  paled  in 
the  daybreak,  dressed  methodically.  Hugh  turned 
up  his  boot-tops  and  fastened  his  buff  coat  up 
to  his  chin,  telling  himself  he  should  be  too 
grateful  to  Sir  William  for  such  a  stout  jacket  to 
envy  Frank  his  cuirass,  then,  while  his  companion 


i46  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

was  tugging  a  comb  through  his  curly  hair,  sat 
down  on  the  window-seat  to  wait.  The  manor 
house  looked  out  across  a  valley  toward  the  east, 
where  a  light  rift  in  the  dun  clouds  showed  till 
presently  the  sun  broke  through,  and  turned  the 
mist  in  the  lowlands  to  silver.  "  It  will  be  a  fair 
day,"  Hugh  said,  half  aloud ;  "  'tis  a  Sunday,  too, 
is  it  not  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  sneered  Frank.  "  How  can  so  godly  a 
man  as  Essex  fight  of  a  Sabbath  ?  "  Then  he 
broke  off  speech  for  the  serious  business  of  strap- 
ping on  his  sword,  which  was  long  enough  to 
threaten  to  trip  him  up.  Hugh  looked  on  rather 
enviously,  for  no  one  had  yet  offered  him  a  sword, 
and,  as  he  felt  he  should  not  ask  for  one,  he  had 
to  content  himself  with  sticking  in  his  belt  a 
spare  pistol  Captain  Turner  had  lent  him. 

When  the  two  young  soldiers  came  downstairs 
they  found  the  candles  were  long  since  out  and 
gray  daylight  was  glimmering  through  the  hall. 
There  tables  were  spread,  about  which  the  offi- 
cers of  the  troop,  all  equipped,  sat  or  stood  while 
they  ate ;  and,  as  they  had  good  appetites,  Hugh, 
though  he  was  not  over-hungry,  felt  obliged  to 
take  bread  and  meat  and  try  to  make  a  hearty 
meal.  All  about  him  was  talk  of  nothing  but  the 
battle,  the  numbers  the  Earl  of  Essex  had  in  his 
army,  the  numbers  the  king  could  put  against 
him,  and  the  surety  of  a  mighty  victory.  "  Do 
not  you  -be  all  so  certain,"  croaked  Turner,  who 
had  seated  himself  to  make  a  comfortable  meal. 
The  others  hooted  him  down,  so  he  changed  the 
subject  by  chaffing  Frank  on  his  prodigiously 
long  sword.  The  boy  retorted  saucily  enough  to 


ix  THE  WAY  TO  WAR  147 

make  those  about  him  laugh ;  indeed,  for  the 
most  part,  all  were  gay  now  daylight  had  come 
and  the  work  before  them  was  clear  to  see. 
There  were  wagers  laid  on  the  length  of  the 
battle,  promises  of  high  revelry  on  the  spoils  of 
the  enemy,  and  above  all  calls  for  wine.  When 
the  glasses  were  filled,  Sir  William,  rising  at  the 
head  of  the  table,  gave  the  king's  health.  Hugh 
remembered  afterward  the  instant's  tense  hush 
that  came  in  the  talk  and  loud  laughter,  then  the 
sudden  uproar  of  fists  smiting  on  the  table,  boot- 
heels  stamping  on  the  floor,  and  through  and 
above  all  cheers  and  cheers  that  made  the  high- 
roofed  hall  reecho.  Then,  as  the  tumult  died  down, 
the  major,  Bludsworth,  cried :  "  Now,  then,  lads : 
To  the  devil  with  the  Parliament  and  Essex ! " 

After  that  was  shouting  that  made  the  lungs 
ache,  and  glasses  shattered  on  the  floor,  then,  as 
the  storm  of  curses  and  calls  abated,  one  of  the 
officers  struck  up  a  song  against  the  Parlia- 
ment, and  some  joined  in,  some  laughed,  and 
others  still  cried,  "  Down  with  the  Parliament ! " 

Just  then  a  messenger,  pushing  in,  tpoke  a 
wrord  to  Sir  William,  who  gave  orders  for  the 
troop  to  prepare  itself  to  march,  for  the  main 
guard  would  soon  be  under  way. 

"  Mayhap  we  can  get  sight  of  something  from 
the  hill  here,"  Frank  cried.  "Come  out,  Hugh, 
and  see." 

Running  out  into  the  cold  of  the  nipping  morn- 
ing air  they  set  their  faces  to  the  steep  pitch  of 
hillside  behind  the  manor  house.  The  turf  was 
stiff  with  frost,  so  climbing  was  easy,  and  in  a 
short  space  they  were  at  the  summit.  Instinc- 


J48  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

tively  they  turned  their  first  glance  to  the  west 
where  the  enemy  lay.  "  But  'tis  useless  gazing,'1 
Frank  said,  next  moment,  "for  'twixt  here  and 
Kineton  rises  a  piece  of  high  land ;  they  call  it 
Edgehill.  Face  back  to  the  east,  Hugh.  Look, 
look,  'tis  the  vanguard !  " 

Winding  down  the  opposite  slope  they  could 
now  distinguish  a  long  line  of  moving  figures, 
horsemen  upon  horsemen,  with  the  sunlight  glit- 
tering ever  the  stronger  on  their  cuirasses  and 
helmets.  Moment  after  moment  the  boys  delayed 
there,  till  the  foremost  of  the  riders  toiled  up  a 
lower  ridge  of  the  hill,  not  an  eighth  of  a  mile 
distant  from  them.  The  hum  of  the  moving 
files  reached  them;  almost  they  thought  to  dis- 
tinguish the  devices  of  the  fluttering  banners. 
"  But  the  king's  standard  will  come  only  with 
the  Life  Guards  and  the  foot,"  Frank  explained. 
"  This  evening  'twill  be  waving  over  all  England. 
God  and  our  right !  God  and  King  Charles  !  " 

"  Yonder  below  marches  a  black  cornet,"  Hugh 
broke  in.  "  See  you,  Frank  ?  My  father's  troop 
goes  under  such  a  banner." 

"  Say  we  draw  down  nearer  to  them,"  the  other 
cried,  and  started  to  descend  the  hill. 

"  Stay,  Frank,"  Hugh  called,  "  it  must  be  mid- 
morning.  I  think  we  were  best  get  back  to  our 
troop." 

"  Name  of  Heaven  !  I  had  near  forgot,"  Frank 
replied,  and,  facing  about,  started  back  to  the 
manor  house  at  full  speed. 

Hugh  followed  after,  slipping  upon  the  steep 
hillside,  and  so  they  came  down  behind  the  stables, 
where  after  the  tumult  of  the  earlier  morning  was 


DC  THE  WAY  TO  WAR  149 

a  surprising  quiet.  "  Some  must  have  set  out 
already,"  Frank  panted,  as  he  headed  for  the 
house. 

"  I'll  fetch  our  horses,"  Hugh  shouted  after  him, 
and  ran  to  the  stable.  Within  he  saw  The  Jade 
and  the  sorrel  had  already  been  led  forth,  and 
in  their  places,  all  a-lather  and  with  drooping 
heads,  stood  the  black  and  bay  captured  from 
the  Oldesworths.  "  When  were  they  put  here  ?  " 
Hugh  cried  to  the  hostler,  and,  without  waiting 
for  an  answer,  ran  for  the  house ;  if  the  horses 
were  there,  Dick  Strangwayes  must  be  close  at 
hand. 

But  when  he  came  to  the  house  he  found  neither 
horse  nor  man,  only  off  to  the  right  the  last  of 
Sir  William's  troop  were  pacing  round  a  spur  of 
the  hill,  and  on  the  doorstone  stood  Frank  with 
his  hands  tight  clinched.  "  Hugh,  they've  taken 
our  horses !  "  he  cried  shrilly. 

"  Have  you  seen  anything  of  Dick  ? "  Hugh 
asked  in  his  turn. 

"And  Bludsworth, — the  fiend  come  and  fetch 
him !  —  he  answered  me :  '  The  men  that  can 
strike  the  stoutest  blows  for  the  king  must  have 
the  horses  to-day.' "  Frank  plunged  a  step  or 
two  across  the  trampled  turf,  as  if  he  had  a  mind 
to  run  after  the  troop.  "  He'd  not  a  dared  use 
me  so,  if  he  knew  not  my  father  would  approve. 
I  told  you  they'd  cheat  us  of  the  battle.  Never 
mind,  I  would  not  fight  for  them  if  I  could." 

As  Frank's  voice  trailed  off  into  inarticulate 
mutterings  Hugh  found  opportunity  to  question : 
"  Has  Dick  been  here  ?  Tell  me." 

"  Ay,  'twas  he  and  another  from  Butler's  troop. 


1 5o  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Had  spurred  night  and  day.  Their  horses  were 
spent.  And  Dick  Strangwayes  has  taken  my 
Jade.  Plague  on  him  !  He's  too  heavy  for  her; 
he'll  break  her  legs.  My  Jade  —  " 

"  He  has  gone  into  the  battle  and  I  did  not 
see  him,"  Hugh  broke  out.  "  He  may  be  hurt 
again." 

"  I  care  not  if  he  be,"  Frank  cried,  "so  he 
bring  her  back  safe.  She  was  the  prettiest  bit 
of  horseflesh !  And  I  was  going  to  ride  her  in 
the  battle.  —  Did  I  not  tell  you  they'd  not  let  us 
come  ?  And  no  doubt  they'll  beat  the  rebels  and 
'tis  the  last  encounter  and  I  shall  not  be  there. 
And  she  was  my  horse,  and  she  loved  me ;  she 
almost  never  kicked  at  me."  Frank's  shrill  voice 
broke  suddenly.  "  Oh,  hang  it  all ! "  he  cried, 
and,  dropping  down  on  the  doorstone  with  his 
head  on  the  threshold,  began  sobbing  piteously 
and  choking  out  more  oaths  till  his  voice  was  lost 
for  weeping. 

Hugh  forgot  his  own  bitter  disappointment  at 
not  seeing  Dick  and  having  no  chance  to  earn  a 
commission  in  the  battle,  in  his  first  alarm  for 
Frank.  Then  alarm  gave  place  to  something 
akin  to  disgust  at  the  boy's  childishness,  and  he 
half  started  to  walk  away,  but  he  turned  back. 
After  all,  Frank  was  younger  than  he,  and  he 
ought  to  be  patient  with  the  lad,  just  as  Dick 
Strangwayes  had  been  patient  with  him.  So  he 
stood  over  Frank  and  tried  to  joke  him  into  being 
quiet. 

"  But  'twas  my  horse,"  the  boy  sobbed,  "  and 
there'll  never  be  another  battle,  and  I  had  no 
part  in  the  last." 


ix  THE  WAY  TO  WAR  151 

"Well,  it  does  not  befit  your  cuirass  to  cry 
like  that,"  Hugh  answered;  and  then,  "  Look  you 
here,  Frank,  'tis  not  above  six  miles  to  Kineton 
and  we've  good  legs  to  carry  us.  Why  should 
we  not  have  a  hand  in  the  fighting  even  now  ? " 


CHAPTER  X 

IN   THE   TRAIL   OF   THE    BATTLE 

IT  was  long  past  the  noon  hour,  as  the  west- 
ward bent  of  the  sun  showed,  when  the  two  boys 
panted  up  the  northern  pitch  of  the  rough  Edge- 
hill.  From  the  manor  house  to  the  field  they 
had  come  at  their  best  pace,  running  at  first 
even  up  the  hillsides,  till  sheer  lack  of  breath 
made  them  somewhat  moderate  their  speed.  A 
couple  of  miles  out  from  the  house,  as  they 
headed  aimlessly,  with  only  a  vague  notion  that 
somewhere  to  the  west  the  battle  would  be  joined, 
they  came  up  with  a  body  of  foot  alongside  which 
they  marched  clear  to  the  southern  verge  of  the 
hill.  Coming  thither,  they  at  last  heard  the 
rumor  that,  while  the  foot  would  be  massed  in 
the  centre  for  the  fight,  the  Prince  with  the 
mounted  men,  among  whom  served  Sir  William's 
troop,  would  hold  the  right  wing.  Thereupon 
they  forsook  the  foot  soldiers  and,  heading  to  the 
northward,  plunged  down  a  steep  pitch  and  across 
an  open  bit  of  ground,  where  they  got  entangled 
in  a  body  of  pikemen  and  were  nearly  ridden 
down  by  some  straggling  dragoons,  and  so  came 
breathless  up  the  last  hillside.  There  upon  the 
high  ridge,  whence  for  miles  they  could  see  the 
low  country  spreading  away  toward  Kineton  and 

152 


CH.  x    ,     IN   THE  TRAIL  OF  THE   BATTLE  153 

right  beneath  them  the  mustering  squadrons,  they 
made  a  moment's  halt. 

"  Below  here  to  the  right  our  men  are,"  Frank 
gasped,  without  breath  enough  to  shout.  "  If  I 
only  had  The  Jade." 

"  'Twill  be  the  enemy  far  over  yonder  in  the 
plain,  where  I  can  just  make  out  black  things  to 
move,"  said  Hugh.  "  There  look  to  be  a  many 
of  them." 

"  There'll  be  fewer  ere  night,"  Frank  replied. 

"  Sure,  we'll  scarce  give  battle  so  late  in  the 
day?" 

"  There's  time  enough  'twixt  now  and  sun- 
down to  trounce  them  roundly,"  Frank  answered 
cheerfully.  "  Come,  let  us  go  down  and  seek  out 
people." 

They  had  gone  barely  a  rod  along  the  brow  of 
the  hill,  when  right  behind  them,  deadened  till 
now  by  the  yielding  turf,  sounded  the  galloping 
of  a  horse.  Glancing  over  his  shoulder,  Hugh 
got  sight  of  a  rider  spurring  in  their  steps  with  no 
evident  intention  of  swerving,  so  he  caught  Frank 
by  the  arm  and  jerked  him  to  one  side,  none  too 
soon,  for  the  horse's  nose  almost  grazed  the 
boy's  shoulder.  "  Look  how  you  ride ! "  Hugh 
shouted  angrily.  The  horseman  never  deigned 
to  look  at  him,  but,  with  his  dark  face  set  to  the 
front  and  the  ends  of  his  scarlet  sash  fluttering, 
shot  by  and  disappeared  down  the  hillside. 

"  Curse  him ! "  Frank  sputtered,  "  'twas  a 
coward's  trick ;  'twas  like  him." 

"  Like  who?" 

"  'Tis  Philip  Bellasis,  a  son  of  my  Lord  Bel- 
lasis.  I  pray  his  comb  be  cut  some  fine  morning." 


154  HUGH  GWYETH  .       CH. 

"  The  Lord  Bellasis  who  is  of  the  king's  coun- 
cil ? "  Hugh  asked,  as  they  tramped  along  the 
hilltop,  with  ears  alert  now  for  more  reckless 
riders  behind  them. 

"  Ay,  a  scurvy  civilian,"  Frank  said,  with  extra 
swagger;  "we  of  the  army  have  no  love  for 
them  nor  they  for  us.  Why,  his  influence  came 
near  losing  my  father  his  independent  command. 
He  would  have  lumped  us  in  with  my  Lord  Car- 
navon's  horse.  Well,  we'll  show  to-day  who'll 
save  the  kingdom,  meddling  lawyers  like  Bellasis 
or  soldiers  like  ourselves." 

Then  conversation  ceased,  for  reaching  a  gully 
in  the  hillside  they  gave  all  their  thoughts  to 
descending  it,  and  slipped  and  scuffled  in  the  dry 
bed  till  Frank  had  wrenched  his  ankle  and  Hugh 
had  a  torn  coat-sleeve  to  his  credit.  The  gully 
ending  in  a  small  stream,  they  followed  it  down 
through  a  copse  of  bare  bushes  that  snapped 
against  the  face,  and  so  came  out  upon  the  open 
plain.  Not  an  eighth  of  a  mile  distant,  sitting 
ready  with  their  backpieces  gleaming  and  their 
carabines  slung  across  their  shoulders,  they  could 
see  the  ranks  of  horsemen.  In  the  open  betwixt 
the  boys  and  the  ordered  troops  messengers  were 
spurring  to  and  fro,  and  now  and  again,  in  small 
groups  or  man  by  man,  stray  horsemen  straggled 
by.  One  such  they  came  upon  by  the  brook,  as 
he  was  patching  a  broken  girth,  and  Hugh,  paus- 
ing to  lend  his  aid,  asked  him  what  news  there 
was  in  the  field.  "  Why  does  not  the  battle  begin 
at  once  ? "  Frank  urged,  and,  when  the  man 
answered  the  troops  were  but  waiting  the  word 
to  fall  on,  he  caught  Hugh's  arm  and  bade 


x  IN  THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  BATTLE  155 

him  come  forward  quickly  to  seek  their  regi- 
ment. 

At  that  the  trooper  struck  in :  "  Best  keep  out 
o'  the  press,  sir.  You'll  be  trampled  to  pieces 
there  with  small  good  to  the  king  or  to  yourself. 
Better  bear  off  to  the  northward  out  of  harm's 
way." 

"  But  I  am  here  solely  to  get  in  harm's  way," 
Frank  protested;  and,  when  Hugh,  taking  the 
advice,  made  for  a  log  bridge  to  cross  the  stream, 
followed  grumblingly. 

Once  over,  with  the  intention  of  taking  their 
final  stand  at  the  extreme  right  of  the  line  of 
waiting  horsemen,  they  pressed  northward  across 
the  uneven  plain.  They  were  sliding  down  the 
bank  to  a  shallow  hollow,  when  the  thud,  thud  of 
hoofs  warned  them  to  look  to  the  westward  and 
there,  over  a  slight  rise  in  the  ground,  a  belated 
troop  came  at  a  smart  trot.  Pressing  back  against 
the  bank  Hugh  watched  the  crowded  column's 
approach,  the  bespattered  breasts  of  the  horses, 
their  tossing  heads,  and  above  the  waving  manes 
the  white  faces  of  the  riders.  As  the  head  of  the 
column  came  close  upon  him  his  eyes  rested  on 
its  leader,  and  he  saw  he  was  a  man  of  middle 
height  with  reddish  hair,  who  rode  in  his  shirt 
with  neither  cuirass  nor  helmet.  Then  the  troop 
was  sweeping  past,  black,  red,  and  gray  horses 
straining  at  a  trot,  and  men  with  steady  faces  and 
silent  lips,  among  whom,  looking  closer,  Hugh 
recognized  some  he  knew. 

But  he  only  gazed  without  speaking  till  the 
last  horse  had  swung  down  the  hollow,  and 
Frank,  who  had  been  cheering  mightily,  settled 


156  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

his  hat  on  his  head  again,  with  an  excited,  "  A 
brave  troop,  was  it  not,  Hugh  ?  " 

"  It  was  my  troop,"  Hugh  answered.  "  Did 
you  not  note  ?  'Twas  my  father  led  them." 

"  Oh,  ay,  to  be  sure,"  replied  Frank,  making 
for  the  opposite  side  of  the  hollow.  "  I  scarce 
remembered  him,  and,  to  my  thinking,  he  has 
used  you  so  knavishly  that  he  does  not  merit 
to  dwell  in  any  gentleman's  remembrance,  and  — 
Hark,  there !  " 

Both  halted  a  moment  as  from  far  off  on 
the  left  came  the  dull  boom,  boom  of  cannon. 
From  far  to  the  front  an  answering  crash 
sounded.  "  They're  falling  to  it,"  Frank  cried. 
"Briskly,  Hugh!" 

One  last  spurt  that  sent  the  blood  beating  to 
the  temples  and  turned  the  breath  hot  in  the 
throat,  and  they  were  stumbling  up  the  little  hil- 
lock for  which  they  had  headed.  Still,  before  and 
on  the  left,  the  cannon  were  pounding,  and  there 
came,  too,  in  long,  undistinguishable  shouts,  the 
noise  of  men  cheering.  The  withered  grass  of 
the  hillside  wavered  before  Hugh's  eyes  with  the 
very  weariness  of  running,  yet  he  found  strength 
in  him  to  pull  off  his  hat  and  breath  to  pant  out : 
"  For  a  king !  " 

Then,  coming  over  the  brow  of  the  hill,  he 
had  sight  of  the  rough  plain  stretching  off  to 
the  gray  west,  and  across  it  saw  the  long  ranks 
of  horsemen  sweeping  forward.  A  gleam  of  cui- 
rasses and  helmets,  a  glimpse  of  plunging  horses 
and  waving  swords,  a  flutter  of  banners ;  they 
had  charged  onward,  and  only  the  echo  of  their 
shouts  still  lingered  and  was  lost  in  the  throb 


x  IN  THE  TRAIL  OF  THE   BATTLE  157 

of  cannon.  Now  first  Hugh  realized  his  throat 
was  near  cracked  with  cheering  and  his  arm 
ached  with  waving  his  hat ;  so  he  paused  breath- 
less, with  his  eyes  still  fastened  on  the  brown 
dust-cloud  toward  the  west.  There  came  a 
touch  on  his  arm,  and  putting  out  his  hand 
he  grasped  Frank's  wrist.  Young  Pleydall  was 
gasping  for  breath  with  a  choke  like  a  half  sob. 
"  If  we  had  only  been  with  them !  "  he  broke  out. 

"  My  father  is  there,"  Hugh  said,  half  aloud. 
He  did  not  tell  Frank  what  he  was  thinking: 
that,  after  all,  he  would  rather  have  a  father  who, 
even  if  he  did  despise  and  reject  his  son,  was 
striking  good  blows  over  yonder,  than  an  indul- 
gent parent  like  Master  Nathaniel  Oldesworth, 
who  could  bear  to  sit  idle  at  home. 

"  What  if  your  father  is  there  ?  "  Frank  panted 
in  retort.  "  It  does  not  better  matters  for  us. 
They're  hard  at  it.  Listen  to  the  muskets  yon- 
der. Come,  let  us  go  thither." 

Hugh  gave  one  glance  to  the  west,  where  even 
the  dust-cloud  had  faded  in  the  distance,  and 
to  the  south,  where  a  slight  swelling  of  the  plain 
hid  the  sight  of  conflict;  it  was  from  there  the 
tantalizing  noise  of  firing  came.  "  'Tis  not  in 
human  endurance  to  stay  here  and  not  know 
how  the  day  is  going,"  he  burst  out,  and  led  the 
way  down  into  the  plain.  They  struck  toward 
the  brook  they  had  crossed,  and  followed  its 
course  northwestward,  almost  in  the  track  the 
Royalist  horse  had  taken. 

"  They've  all  passed  out  of  sight,"  Frank  said 
as  he  pressed  forward,  half  on  the  run.  "  They 
must  have  driven  the  rebels  clean  into  Kineton." 


158  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

"  Hark  to  the  southward  !  "  Hugh  answered. 

"  They  will  only  be  shooting  down  stragglers," 
Frank  replied  confidently.  "  The  day's  ours. 
No  living  thing  could  stand  up  against  such 
a  charge.  Was  it  not  brave  ?  I  tell  you,  Hugh, 
war  is  the  grandest  —  " 

There  the  words  died  away  on  Frank's  lips, 
as  a  few  paces  before  them  near  the  brookside 
he  caught  sight  of  a  dark,  motionless  thing. 
" 'Tis  not  —  "he  faltered,  and  made  a  movement 
as  if  he  had  half  a  mind  to  fetch  a  circuit  about 
the  place. 

"  Come  along,"  Hugh  said  firmly,  though  he 
felt  the  heart  contract  within  him.  "  If  he  be 
alive,  we  must  help  him."  Walking  forward  de- 
liberately, he  halted  a  step  from  the  object,  —  a 
common  trooper,  he  now  saw,  and  by  his  colors 
one  of  the  king's  men.  He  lay  on  his  back 
with  his  hands  clinched  above  his  head,  and 
the  blood  bubbling  out  through  a  bullet  wound 
in  his  throat,  but  he  still  breathed  in  short, 
rattling  gasps.  Perceiving  that,  Hugh  ran  to  the 
margin  of  the  brook,  and,  dipping  his  hat  full  of 
water,  splashed  it  over  the  man's  face ;  he  re- 
membered afterward  what  a  dull,  dogged  face 
it  was  under  the  pain  that  was  distorting  the 
brows  and  lips.  He  raised  the  man's  head  up 
against  his  arm.  "  Fetch  more  water,  Frank," 
he  bade ;  then,  as  the  boy  turned,  it  seemed 
something  caught  and  clicked  in  the  trooper's 
throat,  and  his  head  slipped  down  from  Hugh's 
arm.  Hugh  suffered  him  to  sink  to  the  ground, 
and  was  kneeling  beside  him,  half  dazed  with 
the  awesomeness  of  what  had  happened,  when 


x  IN  THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  BATTLE  159 

Frank  came  stumbling  back.  "  What ! "  the 
younger  lad  cried;  "is  he  — " 

"  He  is  gone,"  Hugh  answered  simply.  He 
got  up,  and  walking  to  the  brook  lay  down  on 
the  brink  and  drank ;  the  chill  of  the  soggy  turf 
beneath  him  and  the  cold  water  he  gulped  down 
seemed  to  wash  away  something  of  the  horror  he 
had  just  seen.  He  rose  fairly  steadied.  "  Shall 
we  go  forward,  Frank  ?  "  he  asked.  "  There'll  be 
more  such  to  see." 

"  Yes,  let  us,"  Frank  said,  rather  subdued,  and 
so,  passing  the  body  of  the  trooper,  they  went  on 
down  the  brook. 

The  farther  they  advanced,  the  more  ill  sights 
there  were  to  see  :  horses  that  lay  dead  or 
sprawled  with  disabling  wounds  yet  struggled  to 
rise,  men  with  gashed  bodies  or  blackened  faces, 
who  were  beyond  aid,  and  others,  bleeding  with 
wounds,  who  had  crawled  to  their  feet  and  were 
heading  for  the  rear.  One  horse,  a  roan,  Frank 
persuaded  Hugh,  for  The  Jade's  sake,  to  shoot 
with  his  pistol ;  but  after  that  Hugh,  sparing  his 
scant  supply  of  ammunition,  refused  to  carry  on 
such  work.  But  they  tried  to  aid  the  wounded 
men,  who  came  ever  more  frequently,  and  with 
them  one  or  two  of  another  sort,  unhurt  but  rid- 
ing too  hastily  to  pause  to  speak.  "  The  cowardly 
knaves !  "  Frank  cried.  "  If  I  find  one  of  our  troop 
turning  tail  so,  hang  me  if  I  do  not  recommend 
him  for  a  flogging." 

But  just  then  there  came  a  white-faced  horse- 
man, who,  reining  up  at  their  call,  gladly  gave 
them  what  tidings  he  could,  which  were  vague 
enough,  only  the  king's  men  had  swept  the  rebel 


160  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

horse  from  off  the  earth,  and  chased  the  rest  of 
the  army  away,  and  there  had  been  great  fighting, 
and  a  scurvy  Roundhead  bullet  had  broke  his 
leg.  Would  one  of  the  young  gentlemen  reach 
him  a  drink  of  water  ?  He  could  not  dismount. 
Hugh  filled  the  man's  steel  cap  at  the  brook,  and 
then  he  rode  slowly  away. 

Farther  on,  where  the  conflict  had  been  hotter, 
they  passed  more  bodies,  and  just  the  other  side 
of  the  brook,  which  they  leaped  at  a  narrow  turn, 
came  upon  one  lying  face  down  whose  long  hair 
gave  him  to  be  a  gentleman.  Hugh  had  bent  to 
see  if  by  any  chance  he  still  lived,  when  Frank 
thrust  by  him.  "  Do  you  not  know  that  head- 
piece with  a  nick  in  it  ?  "  he  cried.  "  'Tis  Ned 
Griffith." 

At  that  they  had  him  over  on  his  back  and 
found  he  was  breathing,  in  spite  of  a  great  gash 
in  his  shoulder  that  had  sheered  through  the 
cuirass.  Tearing  off  his  armor,  they  splashed 
water  over  him  till  the  young  fellow  revived 
enough  to  blink  his  eyes  open,  groan,  and  shut 
them  again.  "  Live  ? "  said  Frank,  pouring  another 
capful  of  water  over  him.  "  Do  you  think  a  man 
will  die  who  can  fetch  a  groan  like  that  ?  " 

Griffith's  eyes  slowly  opened  again.  "  You 
youngsters  ?  "  he  asked  feebly.  "  Was  it  the 
whole  troop  rode  over  me  ?  " 

Hugh  laid  open  his  coat,  and,  with  a  certain 
grim  thankfulness  that  what  he  had  unwillingly 
seen  now  enabled  him  without  physical  shrinking 
to  help  a  friend,  bandaged  his  hurt.  "  We  must 
carry  him  to  the  rear,"  he  finally  ordered  Frank. 
"  You  take  his  legs,  and  I'll  manage  his  head." 


x  IN  THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  BATTLE  161 

They  lifted  up  Ned  Griffith,  who  hung  limp 
and  heavy  in  their  hands,  and  set  their  faces 
toward  the  dark  hill  whence  the  king's  army  had 
charged  forth.  The  walk  out  into  the  field  had 
gone  briskly  enough,  but  there  seemed  no  end  to 
the  return  journey.  Again  and  again  they  had 
to  lay  the  injured  man  down  while  they  re- 
covered breath ;  but  though  wounded  stragglers 
passed  them,  they  saw  none  who  could  aid  them, 
so  of  necessity  they  lifted  up  their  burden  once 
more  and  struggled  on.  Sometimes  Frank  panted 
out  a  grumbling  complaint,  but  Hugh  made  no 
reply,  for  his  eyes  were  on  the  wounded  man's 
white  face  and  parted  lips,  and  he  found  himself 
wondering  how  his  father  was  faring  in  the  battle, 
and  what  might  have  befallen  Dick  Strangwayes. 

Of  a  sudden  Frank,  letting  Griffith's  boots 
come  to  the  ground  abruptly,  began  shouting 
with  all  his  strength  to  a  brace  of  loiterers. 
"  Men  of  our  troop,"  he  explained  to  Hugh,  "and 
not  much  wounded,  Heaven  be  thanked  for't ! 
They  can  convey  Ned  to  a  surgeon,  if  such  a  one 
is  in  the  field,  and  we'll  back  to  see  more." 

Relinquishing  their  charge  on  such  terms,  they 
set  their  faces  again  to  the  field  of  battle.  It  was 
now  drawing  toward  sundown,  and  the  fire  to 
the  south  had  slackened.  "  Mark  my  words,  the 
war  is  ended,"  Frank  lamented;  "and  we  have  had 
no  part  in  it,  only  to  tramp  about  and  look  on 
those  others  have  killed." 

Hugh  must  acknowledge  to  himself  it  had  been 
a  grim  afternoon's  work,  so  with  some  hope  of 
brisker  adventures  he  followed  willingly,  as  his 
companion  headed  southerly  toward  the  clearer 


i62  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

line  of  a  road.  "  Maybe  we'll  find  our  troop  if  we 
walk  toward  Kineton,"  Frank  suggested.  "  And 
we  could  ride  back  with  them." 

"  Yes,  they  should  have  taken  some  horses 
from  the  rebels  by  this,"  Hugh  replied,  with  a  nod 
toward  a  corpse  with  an  orange  sash  that  lay  on 
the  edge  of  the  roadway.  He  stubbornly  told 
himself  it  was  only  another  monument  to  the 
Royalist  fighting  quality,  and  tried  to  believe  he 
had  nearly  deadened  sympathy  in  him  and  cal- 
loused his  senses  to  the  horror  of  what  he  must 
endure  if  he  would  follow  this  life  he  had  chosen. 

They  faced  westward  and  tramped  along  the 
road,  but  what  with  ruts  and  mire  it  proved 
heavier  walking  than  the  fields.  "  Faith,  I'm 
weary  of  this,"  Frank  grumbled.  "  How  much 
farther  to  Kineton  ?  " 

"  Let's  bear  off  on  the  other  side,"  suggested 
Hugh,  peering  through  the  gathering  twilight. 
"  Vender's  a  bit  of  a  hollow  and  it  may  be  easier 
going." 

They  crossed  a  piece  of  open  level,  and,  hold- 
ing this  the  quickest  way,  jumped  down  the  slight 
pitch  at  its  farther  edge.  As  they  recovered 
footing,  they  perceived  close  before  them  in  the 
lee  of  the  bank  two  bodies  lying  motionless,  one 
of  which  seemed  that  of  an  officer  by  its  better 
clothes  and  of  a  rebel  by  its  orange  sash.  It  was 
the  first  officer  of  Essex's  army  they  had  yet  noted 
among  the  dead,  and,  with  a  sudden  fear  that  it 
might  be  one  of  his  own  kindred,  Hugh  bent 
over  the  corpse.  Finding,  to  his  relief,  that  the 
face  was  strange  to  him,  he  was  turning  away, 
when  his  eyes  chanced  to  rest  upon  the  other 


x  IN  THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  BATTLE  163 

body,  that  of  a  hulking  common  foot  soldier.  As 
he  gazed  he  thought  to  see  a  slight  tremor  pass 
over  it,  so,  stepping  to  the  man  as  he  lay  on  his 
face,  he  shook  him  by  the  shoulder. 

At  the  touch  the  fellow  suddenly  scrambled  to 
his  knees.  "  Don't  kill  me,  master,"  he  whined. 
"  Give  me  quarter." 

Hugh  had  started  back  a  step  or  two  and 
pulled  out  his  pistol ;  the  man  was  not  even 
scratched,  he  perceived,  but  had  feigned  dead. 
Then  he  noted  a  basket-hilted  sword  with  a 
leathern  baldric  that  had  been  concealed  beneath 
him  as  he  lay,  and  he  noted,  too,  that  not  only 
did  the  dead  officer  wear  no  sword,  but  his 
pockets  had  been  turned  inside  out.  "  So  that's 
your  trade,  is  it  ? "  Hugh  cried.  "  Robbing  the 
dead  of  your  own  party,  eh  ?  " 

"  I'll  never  do  so  no  more,"  whimpered  the  fel- 
low. "  Don't  'ee  shoot." 

The  craven  tone  of  the  creature  harked  back 
to  something  in  Hugh's  memory;  he  leaned  a 
little  forward  and  studied  the  man's  bearded, 
low-browed  face,  then  drew  back  with  his  pistol 
cocked.  "  I  remember  you,"  he  said.  "  Are  you 
ready  to  pay  back  the  two  shillings  and  sixpence 
you  took  from  me  on  the  Nottinghamshire  cross- 
road?" 

"  Is  this  the  padder?  "  Frank  struck  in.  "  Put 
a  bullet  through  him,  Hugh." 

"  Don't  'ee  shoot  me,  master,"  the  other  begged. 
"  I  did  not  kill  'ee  then,  and  I  might  ha'." 

"  I  am  not  going  to  shoot  you,"  Hugh  replied, 
"  but  you  can  give  me  over  that  sword  to  pay  for 
what  you  owe  me.  And  remember,  this  pistol  I 


1 64  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

hold  now  is  in  good  order,"  he  added,  for  he  half 
suspected  the  fellow  was  plucking  up  courage  as 
he  discovered  it  was  only  two  lads,  not  a  whole 
troop,  had  come  upon  him.  So  he  stood  back 
warily  out  of  the  plunderer's  reach,  while  Frank, 
who  was  viewing  the  whole  proceeding  happily 
like  a  holiday  sport,  took  up  the  booty  and  passed 
it  over  to  him.  Hugh  gathered  the  baldric  about 
the  sword  in  his  left  hand,  a  little  hurriedly,  for  it 
was  beginning  to  dawn  on  him  that  he  and  Frank 
had  strayed  pretty  far,  and  where  one  live  rebel 
was  there  might  be  others.  Just  then,  over  in  the 
plain,  he  got  sight  of  a  straggling  horseman  or 
two,  so  he  turned  upon  Frank  with  a  quick  order : 
"  Clamber  up  the  slope  there  and  make  for  the 
road  briskly." 

He  heard  behind  him  the  boy's  quick  retreat- 
ing step,  but  his  eyes  were  still  fixed  on  the 
scowling  rebel,  whom  he  thought  well  to  cover 
with  his  pistol.  "  Sit  where  you  are,"  he  com- 
manded the  man,  "  and  offer  to  play  me  no 
slippery  tricks  if  you  value  your  skin."  Thus 
speaking,  he  backed  toward  the  bank,  which  he 
ascended  slantingly,  so  as  to  keep  an  eye  on  the 
fellow.  But,  chancing  to  look  beyond  him,  he 
saw  one  of  the  horsemen  was  already  heading 
in  his  direction,  so  he  turned  and  fair  ran  for 
the  roadway,  where  Frank  was  halting  for  him. 
"  Run,"  he  called  to  the  boy ;  "  'tis  a  hornets'  nest 
here.'; 

Without  staying  for  farther  questions,  Frank 
took  to  his  heels  down  the  road  toward  Kineton, 
and  Hugh,  after  one  glance  to  the  right  where  he 
saw  no  stragglers  of  his  own  party,  ran  after  him. 


x  IN  THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  BATTLE  165 

At  each  stride  he  gained  on  him,  for  Frank's 
boots  and  cuirass  encumbered  the  youngster; 
capture  was  possible,  it  flashed  through  Hugh's 
head,  and  with  it  came  the  reflection  that  it  would 
be  discreditable  to  be  taken  in  the  act  of  plunder- 
ing a  private  of  foot,  for  others  might  not  see  the 
justice  of  the  case  as  clearly  as  he  had  seen  it. 
Then  he  found  wit  to  think  only  of  the  hoof-beats 
that  were  now  sounding  on  the  roadway  behind 
him,  louder  and  louder,  and,  looking  at  Frank 
stumbling  on  before  him,  he  thought  what  an  ill 
return  it  would  be  for  all  Sir  William's  kindness 
to  let  harm  come  to  the  boy.  So  he  halted 
short  and  faced  back ;  close  behind  him  was  one 
trooper  with  a  yellow  sash  and  somewhat  in  his 
rear  came  three  others.  How  long  the  horse's 
head  looked,  Hugh  reflected  dazedly,  and  would 
the  man  slash  down  at  him  with  his  sword  and 
make  such  a  gash  as  he  had  seen  upon  Ned 
Griffith?  Then  there  was  no  space  for  reflec- 
tion or  remembrance,  only  the  horse's  head 
grazed  by  him,  he  saw  the  man  lean  forward  in 
his  saddle,  and,  thrusting  up  his  pistol  with  the 
muzzle  aimed  under  the  man's  upraised  arm,  he 
fired.  The  sword  grazed  down  weakly  across 
his  shoulder,  the  edge  slipping  harmlessly  over 
the  stout  buff;  then  the  sword  fell  to  the  road- 
way, the  horse  clattered  forward  a  pace  or  two, 
and  the  rider  reeled  headlong  from  the  saddle. 
The  horse  went  galloping  away  down  the  road 
with  the  stirrups  beating  against  his  flanks. 

A  shout  from  behind  brought  Hugh  to  his 
senses.  He  ran  forward,  got  a  fleeting  sight  of 
the  rebel  trooper,  who  lay  outstretched  on  his 


1 66  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

back  in  the  roadway  with  a  grayish  shade  gather- 
ing on  his  face,  then  came  up  with  Frank  and 
caught  him  by  the  arm.  "  Off  the  road,  quick !  " 
he  panted.  "  They'll  ride  us  down." 

They  went  headlong  over  the  low  embank- 
ment and  struggled  blindly  forward  into  the  field. 
Hugh  had  jammed  his  pistol  into  his  belt,  won- 
dering how  many  seconds  it  would  take  him  to 
draw  his  sword  clear  for  a  final  stand,  when 
Frank  reeled  up  against  him,  crying :  "  My  ankle ! 
I've  wrenched  it  again."  With  that  he  pitched 
down  at  Hugh's  feet,  and  Hugh,  clapping  his 
hand  to  the  hilt  of  the  sword,  stood  over  him  and 
faced  about.  Then  he  saw  the  rebel  horsemen 
had  drawn  rein  in  the  roadway  and  were  watch- 
ing them  but  not  following,  behind  him  he  heard 
horses  coming,  and  Frank,  suddenly  scrambling  to 
his  feet,  began  shouting.  "  King's  men  !  Hurrah!  " 

Hugh  turned  about  in  time  to  see  a  little  squad 
of  eight  or  ten  horsemen  with  scarlet  scarfs  come 
riding  out  of  the  twilight  and  pull  up  alongside 
them.  There  was  something  familiar  in  the  broad 
shoulders  of  the  leader  and  the  gruff  voice  in 
which  he  began :  "  'Tis  happy  for  you,  gentlemen, 
that  we  —  " 

"  Corporal  Ridydale,  have  you  forgot  me  ? '' 
Hugh  interrupted  breathlessly,  going  up  to  the 
man's  stirrup. 

"  Forgot  you,  sir  ?  "  Ridydale  made  answer, 
"  Lord,  no,  sir.  Jump  up  behind  me.  'Tis  not 
a  healthy  place  hereabouts  for  men  of  our  color. 
—  Here,  Rodes,  take  t'other  young  gentleman  up 
behind  you." 

After  delaying  long  enough  to    slip   his    new 


x  IN  THE  TRAIL  OF  THE   BATTLE  167 

baldric  over  his  shoulder,  Hugh  scrambled  up 
behind  Ridydale,  and  the  little  squad  headed 
across  the  field  toward  Edgehill.  How  had  the 
battle  gone,  Hugh  asked,  as  soon  as  he  had 
recovered  breath ;  and  Ridydale  told  him  the 
Prince  and  Colonel  Gwyeth  had  hunted  the 
rebels  clear  beyond  Kineton.  "The  knaves 
banged  our  troop  some  deal,  but  we  had  brave 
plundering  in  the  town,"  the  corporal  ended. 
" '  How  has  the  day  gone  in  the  rest  of  the  field  ?' 
I  know  not ;  we  have  done  our  part." 

"Colonel  Gwyeth  had  no  hurt?''   Hugh  broke  in. 

"  No  thanks  to  him  that  he  hasn't,  the  madman !  " 
Ridydale  answered.  "  He  would  fight  in  his 
shirt,  for  he  swore  these  fellows  were  too  paltry 
for  a  gentleman  to  guard  against.  So  he  laid  off 
his  armor  ere  he  rode  into  the  fight.  Now  that, 
sir,  is  the  temper  the  gentlemen  of  your  house 
have  ever  been  of,  and  'tis  the  only  fitting  temper." 

It  looked  like  the  beginning  of  their  usual 
disagreement,  so  Hugh  kept  silent,  the  more 
willingly  since  he  found  himself  tired  so  that 
even  talking  required  exertion.  He  leaned  rather 
heavily  against  Ridydale,  and  watched  the  field, 
that  looked  gray  in  the  deepening  twilight,  slip 
by  them,  and,  when  he  shut  his  eyes,  still  saw  the 
field  with  the  trampled  bodies  of  men  and  writh- 
ing chargers.  Then,  of  a  sudden,  their  horse 
pulled  up.  "  I  take  it  we'll  rendezvous  here,"  he 
heard  the  corporal  say.  "  Perchance  you'll  bide 
with  us  till  the  colonel  comes,  sir?" 

"  No,'  Hugh  said  hurriedly,  slipping  down  from 
the  horse.  *'  Thank  you,  Ridydale.  We'd  have 
been  in  a  bad  way  but  for  you." 


1 68  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

Then  he  stumbled  away  with  Frank  across  the 
hummocky  plain,  which  darkness  made  all  the 
more  treacherous,  and,  scrambling  up  the  hill  to 
the  broad  summit,  toiled  about  among  the  scat- 
tered troops  that  were  straggling  back.  "  I  am 
clean  spent, '  his  companion  said  sorrowfully.  "  I 
would  not  be  a  foot  soldier  for  all  the  gold  in  the 
kingdom.  Where  think  you  my  father  is,  Hugh  ?  " 

"  We'll  try  to  find  him,"  Hugh  answered,  with 
what  cheerfulness  he  could  summon,  and  turned 
aside  to  ask  a  friendly-looking  soldier  if  he  knew 
where  Sir  William  Pleydall's  troop  was  stationed. 
The  man  did  not  know,  and,  indeed,  in  the  con- 
fusion and  darkness  no  one  seemed  to  know  any- 
thing ;  so  the  two  boys  could  only  tramp  up  and 
down,  Frank  expostulating  crossly  and  Hugh  too 
utterly  weary  to  respond,  till  at  last  they  got  sight 
of  a  figure  that  looked  familiar  in  the  dusk.  Run- 
ning thither  they  found  it  was  Major  Bludsworth, 
whereupon  Frank  nearly  hugged  him.  "  I  never 
was  so  glad  to  see  you  before,  sir,"  he  cried. 
"  Where  is  my  father,  and  when  are  we  going  to 
have  anything  to  eat  ?  " 

Bludsworth  took  Frank  by  the  arm,  and  half 
carried  him  a  rod  or  so  to  a  small  fire  beneath  a 
bank  about  which  Sir  William  and  a  little  knot  of 
his  officers  were  standing.  "  Here's  a  runaway 
in  quest  of  you,  Sir  William,"  he  announced 
brusquely. 

"  Francis,  you  here  ?  "  Sir  William  asked,  with 
some  displeasure. 

"  Prithee,  do  not  be  angry,  sir,"  Frank  pro- 
tested, "  I've  had  a  gallant  day  of  it.  And  I  have 
not  had  the  least  hurt.  And  Hugh  here  killed  a 


x  IN  THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  BATTLE  169 

man,  sir.  And  has  Dick  Strangwayes  brought 
back  my  Jade?" 

"  The  beast  is  unscathed,"  answered  Sir  William, 
drawing  Frank  to  him  with  a  hand  on  his  shoulder. 
"  And  another  time  you  may  as  well  ride  in  on  her 
back  at  the  start  and  done  with." 

"  Master  Strangwayes  has  come  out  safe,  then  ? " 
Hugh's  eagerness  made  him  strike  in. 

"  No  hurt  at  all,  his  usual  fortune,"  Sir  William 
replied,  before  he  turned  away  to  one  of  those 
beside  him. 

Hugh  had  to  check  his  questions  on  his  tongue's 
end,  and  wait  and  look  about  in  the  hope  each  in- 
stant that  Dick  might  come  tramping  to  the  fire. 
But  the  minutes  ran  on,  Frank  had  settled  himself 
by  the  blaze,  and  Sir  William  had  no  time  to  heed 
a  boy's  concerns,  so  Hugh  must  finally  take  cour- 
age and,  going  to  Bludsworth,  ask  of  Dick's  where- 
abouts. "  Young  Strangwayes  ?"  replied  the  major. 
"  Why,  he  has  gone  back  to  the  house  we  quartered 
at ;  some  one  had  to  convey  Cornet  Griffith  thither." 

"  Well,  he's  left  the  road  behind  him,"  Hugh 
answered  stoutly,  and,  turning  from  the  fire,  faced 
into  the  black  of  the  night. 

At  first,  what  with  the  foot  and  horse  soldiers 
and  camp  followers  to  be  met,  the  gleam  of  the 
bivouac  fires  on  either  hand,  and  the  tumult  of 
the  army  all  about  him,  it  was  brisk  enough  jour- 
neying. But,  as  he  passed  out  from  the  circle  of 
the  encampment  and  the  bustle  around  him  sub- 
sided, he  found  his  riding-boots  felt  heavy  and  the 
going  was  far  slower  than  it  had  been  that  morn- 
ing. It  was  dark  overhead,  so  he  stumbled,  and 
once  his  new  sword  tripped  him.  He  put  his 


170  HUGH  GWYETH  CH.  x 

hand  to  the  hilt  so  as  to  strike  up  the  blade, 
and  then  as  he  trudged  he  fell  to  wondering  what 
manner  of  man  the  sword  had  belonged  to,  and 
he  thought  on  the  trooper  with  the  wound  in  his 
throat,  and  the  many  faces  of  dead  men.  When 
a  branch  snapped  in  a  copse  to  his  left  he  halted 
short  with  his  heart  thumping,  then  told  himself 
he  was  a  fool  and  tried  to  whistle  as  he  walked. 
But  there  came  on  him  a  desire  to  look  back  over 
his  shoulder,  and  the  echo  of  his  whistle  made  his 
blood  thrill  unpleasantly.  There  was  a  thicket 
he  must  pass  through,  he  remembered,  before  he 
reached  the  manor  house;  he  dreaded  it  long, 
and,  when  he  came  to  it,  clinched  his  hands  tight 
and  walked  slowly,  while  the  gray  face  of  the 
trooper  he  had  himself  slain  dazzled  up  and 
down  before  his  eyes.  Half  through  the  thicket 
he  broke  into  a  run,  and,  with  not  even  will 
enough  left  in  his  tired  body  to  restrain  him- 
self, plunged  heavily  across  the  open  to  the  door 
of  the  hall,  where  there  was  light.  He  stumbled 
against  the  door,  which  resisted,  and,  in  a  panic  he 
could  not  comprehend,  he  shook  it. 

"  Gently,  gently,"  came  a  voice  that  calmed  him. 
The  door  swung  open,  and  in  the  candlelight  that 
shone  within  he  saw  Dick  Strangwayes,  with 
his  cuirass  and  helmet  off,  his  coat  hanging  un- 
fastened, and  the  same  old  half-laughing  look  in 
his  eyes,  while  his  lips  kept  sober. 

Hugh  pitched  in  headlong  and  blindly  griped 
his  friend  in  his  arms.  "  Dick,  Dick,"  he  burst 
out,  "  I  have  found  you.  And,  Dick,  I  —  I  killed 
a  man  to-day." 

"  Is  that  all  ? "  Strangwayes  drawled  with  one 
arm  about  him.  "  Why,  I  killed  three." 


CHAPTER  XI 

COMRADES    IN    ARMS 

THERE  were  no  dreams  for  Hugh  after  he  had 
stretched  himself  out  on  a  bench  in  the  hall  as 
Strangwayes  bade  him.  He  was  too  exhausted 
in  body  and  spirit  to  question  or  speak  ;  he 
only  knew  he  was  glad  he  had  found  his  friend 
once  more,  and  the  cushion  beneath  his  head  felt 
soft,  so  he  went  dead  asleep,  and  lost  at  last 
the  remembrance  of  the  sights  of  the  day's  car- 
nage. He  had  no  dreams  and  he  was  loath 
even  to  have  a  waking ;  some  one  shook  him  again 
and  yet  again,  but  he  only  murmured  drowsily, 
with  a  voice  that  seemed  far  off  to  him,  till  he 
was  pulled  up  sitting.  He  screwed  his  knuckles 
into  his  eyes,  turning  his  face  from  the  candle- 
light, and  he  heard  Strangwayes  laugh  :  "  Look 
you  here,  Captain  Turner.  This  gentleman  must 
have  a  clear  conscience  by  the  way  he  sleeps." 

The  thought  that  Turner's  sharp  eyes  were  on 
him  made  Hugh  face  about  and  sit  blinking  at 
the  candles.  The  hall  where  they  had  that  morn- 
ing eaten  was  quite  bare  now  and  dark,  except 
for  the  two  flickering  candles  and  the  uncertain 
firelight.  In  front  of  the  chimney-piece  Turner, 
all  equipped  to  ride  forth,  was  making  a  lunch  of 
a  biscuit  and  a  glass  of  wine  he  held  in  his  hands, 

171 


172  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

and  the  only  other  occupant  of  the  apartment 
was  Dick  Strangwayes,  who,  wrapped  to  the  chin 
in  his  cloak,  stood  by  the  bench.  "  Awake,  eh  ?  " 
he  smiled  down  at  Hugh.  "  Good  morrow,  then." 

"  What's  the  time?  "  Hugh  asked,  peering  across 
the  hall  at  the  windows,  which  were  squares  of 
blackness. 

"  Past  two  and  nipping  cold.  Are  you  fit  to 
ride  back  to  the  field  with  us  ? " 

For  answer  Hugh  staggered  to  his  feet,  mar- 
velling at  the  stiffness  in  his  legs,  and  tried  to 
hold  himself  erect.  "  Here,  on  with  this,"  said 
Strangwayes,  throwing  a  cloak  about  him.  "  I 
judged  'twas  yours,  and  if  'tis  not,  the  man  who 
left  his  goods  so  careless  deserves  to  lose  them. 
And  slip  this  sash  over  your  sword-belt.  It  was 
Ned  Griffith's,  but  he'll  not  need  —  " 

"  He's  not  dead  ? "  Hugh  broke  out. 

"  No,  no ;  but  he'll  be  of  little  more  use  than  a 
dead  man  for  the  next  four  months.  Slash  in 
the  breast  and  his  leg  broke  by  some  of  our  horse 
as  he  lay.  You'll  need  to  look  you  out  a  new 
cornet,  Captain  Turner." 

"They  dropped  my  lieutenant,  too,  down  by 
Kineton,"  said  Turner,  putting  by  his  glass. 
"  Gwyeth's  troop  and  mine,  there  on  the  flank, 
we  suffered  for  it.  Do  you  judge  those  knaves 
will  have  the  horses  saddled  ere  daybreak  ? " 

"  Is  there  more  fighting  to  come  ?  "  Hugh  ques- 
tioned sleepily,  as  he  tried  to  tie  the  scarlet  sash 
across  his  chest. 

"  Enough  to  flesh  that  maiden  sword  of  yours," 
Turner  paused  at  the  door  to  reply.  "  By  the 
bye,  Master  Strangwayes,  is  it  true  that  Captain 


xi  COMRADES  IN   ARMS  173 

Peyton  was  slain  in  the  charge  ?  He  owes  me 
five  sovereign  on  my  wager  that  neither  side 
could  call  the  day  theirs,  and  if  he  has  got  him- 
self killed  !  "  Turner  shrugged  his  shoulders  and 
passed  out. 

"What  has  brought  him  hither?"  Hugh 
yawned. 

"  Poor  old  lad !  Eat  a  bit  and  try  to  wake  up," 
urged  Strangwayes.  "  What  has  brought  Michael 
Turner  ?  Why,  his  love  for  that  poor  little  troop 
he  let  get  so  wofully  peppered  in  the  fight.  He 
has  been  ravaging  the  country  for  a  horse-load 
of  bread  with  which  to  fill  their  stomachs,  ere  the 
battle  he  is  sure  will  come  this  day.  And  now, 
question  for  question,  what  brings  you  here,  so 
far  from  Colonel  Gwyeth  ?  " 

Hugh  put  down  on  the  table  the  piece  of  bread 
he  had  been  eating,  and  looked  across  at  Strang- 
wayes, then  blurted  out  plainly  the  whole  story. 
He  was  glad  to  find  he  could  tell  it  almost  with- 
out passion  now,  with  not  a  censuring  word  for 
Colonel  Gwyeth,  and  even  with  an  effort  to  make 
a  jest  of  some  of  the  happenings.  He  heard 
Strangwayes  mutter  something  like  an  oath  when 
he  described  his  first  meeting  with  the  colonel, 
but  there  was  not  another  sound  till  he  told  of 
the  affair  with  Hardwyn  ;  then  Strangwayes  drew 
in  his  breath  between  his  teeth  and  turned  toward 
the  fire.  Hugh  concluded  hurriedly  and  half 
frightened,  and  waited  for  an  answer ;  then  broke 
out,  "  Dick,  sure  you're  not  going  to  despise  me 
for  it  as  he  does  ?  " 

Strangwayes  came  to  him  and  put  both  hands 
on  his  shoulders.  "  No,  Hugh,"  he  said,  "  I  need 


174  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

all  the  scorn  that's  at  my  command  for  that  pre- 
cious father  of  yours." 

The  jar  of  the  opening  door  made  them  stand 
apart  and  face  to  the  end  of  the  hall,  as  Turner 
looked  in  to  say,  "  Do  you  ride  with  me,  gentle- 
men ? " 

Outside,  a  chilly  wind  that  stung  the  face  was 
abroad,  and  the  sky  was  black  with  clouds.  Hugh 
paused  on  the  threshold  to  blink  the  candlelight 
out  of  his  eyes,  then,  peering  into  the  dark,  made 
out  the  dim  figures  of  Turner,  already  in  the  sad- 
dle, and  of  two  of  his  mounted  troopers  who  held 
led  horses,  and,  last  of  all,  let  his  gaze  rest  on  a 
half-wakened  groom  who  came  up  with  two  fully 
equipped  chargers.  At  sight  of  them  Hugh 
jumped  down  from  the  doorstone,  and,  after  one 
closer  glance,  cried,  "  Why,  Dick,  will  you  suffer 
me  ride  the  bay  ?  " 

"  The  bay  ? "  Strangwayes  answered  from  the 
black  horse's  back.  "  Your  bay,  you  young  fool ! 
Why  in  the  name  of  reason  did  you  not  keep  the 
beast  with  you,  since  you  captured  him  ?  " 

Hugh  settled  himself  in  the  saddle  and  turned 
the  horse's  head  in  his  companion's  tracks,  too 
full  of  joy  to  heed  anything,  save  that  the  bay 
that  had  known  him  in  the  Everscombe  stables, 
that  Peregrine  Oldesworth  would  not  suffer  him 
even  to  stroke,  was  now  his,  all  his.  He  put  out 
one  hand  to  stroke  the  warm  neck,  and  whistled 
softly  to  see  the  slender  ears  erected. 

"  Hold  up,  man !  You're  riding  me  down," 
came  Strangwayes'  voice  beside  him,  and  he 
found  he  had  pushed  forward  till  they  were 
crowding  knee  to  knee. 


xi  COMRADES  IN   ARMS  175 

"  Do  you  honestly  mean  me  to  keep  this  fel- 
low ?  "  Hugh  asked. 

"  If  you  can,"  Strangwayes  replied ;  "  I'm  think- 
ing you'll  keep  him  on  three  legs  if  you  do  not 
spare  talk  and  look  to  him  over  this  rough 
ground." 

Hugh  laughed  happily,  then  drew  the  reins 
tauter  in  his  hands,  and  strained  his  eyes  into  the 
dark  ahead  lest  some  pitfall  open  to  swallow  up 
the  bay  horse  from  under  him.  The  road  was  so 
short,  as  he  traversed  it  now,  that  he  was  sorry 
when  the  fires  on  Edgehill  twinkled  in  the  dis- 
tance, and,  picking  their  way  cautiously,  they 
came  to  the  rendezvous  of  Turner's  troop.  "  I 
am  keeping  by  the  captain,  do  you  see  ?  "  Strang- 
wayes whispered  Hugh  as  they  dismounted.  "  He 
has  lost  his  lieutenant,  and  Sir  William  has  prom- 
ised to  set  me  in  the  first  vacancy." 

Of  the  rest  of  the  night  Hugh  only  remembered 
that  his  knees  were  very  warm  with  the  fire  by 
which  he  sat,  and  his  back  was  cold  in  spite  of 
his  cloak.  The  flames  crackled  bravely,  and 
Strangwayes  talked  nonsense,  to  which  Captain 
Turner  listened  in  deep  and  sober  approbation. 
But  Hugh,  crowded  close  up  to  Strangwayes,  said 
nothing,  just  gazed  at  the  fire  and  closed  his  eyes 
once  in  a  while,  till  at  last  he  went  ignominiously 
asleep  with  his  head  on  his  friend's  shoulder. 

Waking  with  neck  stiff  and  arm  cramped,  he 
found  to  his  delight  the  east  all  pale  in  the  dawn, 
so,  slipping  the  bridle  of  the  bay  horse  over  his 
arm,  he  went  strolling  across  the  encampment  till 
he  could  find  out  Frank  and  show  him  his  new 
mount.  But  Frank,  now  confident  in  the  posses- 


1 76  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

sion  of  The  Jade,  discovered  many  flaws  in  the 
bay,  which  he  set  forth  in  horseman-like  phrases 
till  Hugh  went  sauntering  back  again  to  Strang- 
wayes.  At  Turner's  fire  he  found  a  newcomer,  a 
brown-haired  young  officer,  who  had  once  taken 
him  for  a  horse-boy,  whom  Strangwayes  now 
made  known  to  him  under  the  name  of  George 
Allestree,  guidon  in  Captain  Butler's  dragoons, 
and  serving  as  a  volunteer  at  Edgehill.  Dis- 
creetly ignoring  their  former  meeting,  Allestree 
was  effusively  grateful  to  Hugh  for  the  use  of  the 
bay,  which  Strangwayes  had  lent  him  to  ride 
thither,  and  altogether  proved  so  pleasant  spoken 
a  fellow  that  Hugh  ended  by  putting  out  of  mind 
the  memory  of  his  previous  conduct. 

With  Allestree  and  Strangwayes  Hugh  passed 
the  long  day,  now  talking  a  bit  by  the  ashes  of 
last  night's  fire,  then  rising  to  stretch  his  legs 
and  look  to  his  horse,  then  back  to  the  fire  again, 
where  he  ate  such  rations  as  were  dealt  to  him 
and  felt  rather  hungry  afterward.  It  was  a  day 
of  uncertainty  and  idleness  beneath  which  lay  a 
tense  expectancy ;  any  moment  a  blow  might  be 
struck  for  the  king,  yet  the  moments  passed  and 
nothing  was  done.  About  noon  Turner  stalked 
off  to  confer  with  Sir  William,  but  he  came  back 
whistling  and  non-committal ;  indeed,  there  was 
nothing  but  the  old  story  to  tell:  his  Majesty's 
army  rested  on  Edgehill  and  my  Lord  Essex's 
army  was  drawn  up  in  the  plain  below,  and  each 
looked  at  the  other,  but  neither  moved  to  strike. 

They  were  not  up  in  action  till  mid-afternoon  of 
the  next  day,  when  there  came  word  the  rebels 
were  retreating,  and,  right  on  the  heels  of  that,  a 


xi  COMRADES   IN  ARMS  177 

definite  order  for  the  horse  to  form  in  the  plain. 
Once  more  Hugh  scrambled  down  the  slope  of 
Edgehill,  but  this  time  his  feet  were  braced  in  the 
stirrups,  his  sword  smote  against  his  horse's  flank, 
and  all  about  him,  in  loud  talk  of  the  victory  they 
were  soon  to  gain,  other  mounted  men  were  de- 
scending. Once  more  he  had  sight  of  ranks  of 
horsemen  marshalling  for  a  charge,  but  now  he  was 
himself  in  the  thick  of  it,  and,  when  the  word  was 
passed  along,  waved  his  sword  with  the  rest,  then 
galloped  forward  amidst  his  comrades.  Before  him 
the  plain  swept  into  the  western  sky,  where  the 
clouds  were  shiny  with  the  sun  they  hid,  the  wind 
came  sharp  in  his  face,  and  around  him  men  shouted 
and  horses  plunged  till  his  own  beast,  too,  catch- 
ing the  joy  of  movement,  reared  up.  This  was 
war,  Hugh  thought,  and  only  for  a  second  recalled 
it  was  the  same  bloody  field  over  which  he  had 
tramped  not  eight  and  forty  hours  ago.  Then 
across  the  plain  he  saw  a  cluster  of  roofs,  and, 
as  they  spurred  faster,  made  out  the  windows  of 
the  cottages,  and  men  moving  in  the  street.  At 
that  the  shouting  in  the  ranks  about  him  became 
a  yell  of  onset,  and  he,  too,  rising  up  in  his  stirrups, 
screamed,  "  For  a  king,  a  king  !  " 

Of  what  followed  nothing  was  quite  clear. 
There  were  houses,  a  woman  that  ran  shrieking 
in  front  of  his  horse,  and  a  Roundhead  soldier  he 
saw  bleeding  upon  a  doorstone.  He  heard  shots 
to  the  front,  saw  some  of  his  side  press  past  him 
in  flight,  and  after  that  he  was  mixed  in  a  confu- 
sion of  horses  and  men  of  both  parties.  He 
struck  wildly  in  with  his  sword,  whereat  a  Royalist 
dragoon,  swinging  round  in  his  saddle,  cursed  him 


178  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

volubly  in  German  and  in  English  as  not  old 
enough  to  be  trusted  with  cutting  tools,  and  crowd- 
ing past  the  man  he  left  him  still  cursing.  Then 
he  was  wedged  into  a  lane,  where  was  a  baggage- 
wagon  with  a  teamster  on  it  who  tried  to  lash 
forward  his  four  horses.  One  Cavalier  trooper 
slashed  up  at  the  fellow  where  he  sat,  while  an- 
other was  cutting  the  traces.  Up  at  the  far  end 
of  the  lane  was  a  shouting,  "  The  rebels  are 
coming !  "  Hugh  urged  the  bay  forward  to  the 
heads  of  the  leaders,  and,  bending  from  the  saddle, 
cut  the  traces  with  his  sword.  Then  a  ruck  of 
the  Royalist  troops  was  about  him,  and,  as  men 
caught  at  the  freed  horses,  he  judged  it  proper  to 
seize  one  of  them  by  the  bit  and  hold  to  him, 
while  the  crowd  forced  him  back  down  the  lane, 
past  the  wagon  and  the  teamster  dead  beneath 
its  wheels.  From  the  rear  came  shots,  but  there 
was  no  facing  about  in  such  a  throng,  so  with  the 
rest  Hugh  swept  back  at  a  gallop  through  Kine- 
ton  out  into  the  open  country. 

The  pace  slackening  now,  he  slipped  his  sword 
back  into  the  sheath,  and,  taking  time  to  look 
about  him,  saw  some  of  those  who  rode  near  had 
been  cut,  but  he  himself  and  his  two  horses  were 
without  a  scratch.  Turning  in  the  saddle  to  gaze 
back,  he  saw  other  bands  of  horse  come  strag- 
gling behind  them.  "  Is  the  fight  all  over  ? "  he 
asked  a  trooper  who  trotted  beside  him. 

"  Over  ?  "  swore  the  fellow.  "  What  more  d'ye 
want  ? "  Then  he  looked  pretty  sharply  at  Hugh, 
and  ended  by  offering  to  lead  the  wagon-horse  for 
him,  an  offer  the  boy  refused.  Next  the  trooper, 
assuring  Hugh  he  might  have  no  end  of  difficul- 


xi  COMRADES  IN   ARMS  179 

ties  in  maintaining  his  right  in  the  capture,  pro- 
posed to  give  him  ten  shillings  for  the  beast. 
What  more  he  would  say  Hugh  never  found  out, 
for,  as  they  rode  at  a  slackened  pace  a  little  on 
the  flank,  a  horseman  from  the  rear  came  charg- 
ing into  them,  stared,  and  cried  Hugh's  name.  It 
was  Bob  Saxon  of  Gwyeth's  troop,  who,  scenting 
a  matter  of  horse-dealing,  voluntarily  came  in,  and, 
falling  upon  the  other  man,  bepraised  the  cap- 
tured horse  till  he  clean  talked  the  fellow  out  of 
the  field. 

"  Ten  shillings  ? "  Saxon  repeated  contemptu- 
ously to  Hugh,  "  Lord  forgive  the  knave !  The 
beast  is  worth  fifty.  Come  along  with  me,  sir, 
and  I'll  find  you  a  market." 

They  made  a  great  circuit  off  to  the  north  of 
the  field  and  about  dusk  fetched  up  in  a  hamlet 
to  the  rear  of  the  army,  whither  Royalist  troops 
were  now  marching  from  Edgehill  to  seek  quar- 
ters. Saxon  gathered  some  half  score  of  dragoons 
and  a  petty  officer  or  two  in  the  street  before  the 
village  inn,  where,  with  loud  swearing  and  shout- 
ing, he  showed  off  to  them  the  captured  horse. 
There  followed  much  chaffering  and  wrangling, 
with  Saxon's  voice  loudest,  which  ended  in  the 
paying  of  the  money  and  the  delivering  over  of 
the  beast.  "  Fifty  shillings,  as  I  promised  you, 
sir,"  Saxon  announced,  as  he  told  them  into 
Hugh's  hand,  with  a  suggestive  look  that  made 
Hugh  pass  him  back  five  for  himself. 

"  You're  a  good  piece  of  a  gentleman,  sir,"  the 
trooper  said  candidly,  as  they  rode  out  from  the 
hamlet.  "  Be  you  never  going  to  serve  under 
Colonel  Gwyeth?" 


i8o  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Hugh  winced  and  answered  "  No,"  then,  bidding 
Saxon  good-bye,  headed  for  the  manor  house, 
which  he  was  not  able  to  discover  till  mid-even- 
ing. It  was  a  relief  to  find  himself  safe  among 
his  comrades,  for  he  was  so  conscious  of  the  forty- 
five  shillings  in  his  pocket  that  he  felt  sure  every 
prowler  and  hanger-on  of  the  camp  must  have 
marked  them  for  plunder. 

From  the  field  of  Edgehill  the  royal  army 
marched  to  Banbury,  which  yielded  to  them  unre- 
sistingly. To  Hugh  this  was  far  pleasanter 
marching  than  the  passage  through  Warwick- 
shire, for  not  only  did  he  now  wear  a  sword  and 
a  red  sash  that  marked  him  of  the  king's  men,  but 
he  had  his  own  horse,  Bayard,  as  he  had  named 
him  for  his  bay  color.  The  animal  contented 
him  very  well,  though  Frank  and  The  Jade 
distanced  him  whenever  they  raced  a  piece. 
"  Bayard  is  no  ambler ;  he  was  built  for  serious 
work  in  the  field,"  Hugh  replied  loftily  to  Frank's 
jeers,  and  betook  himself  to  Dick  Strangwayes, 
whose  mere  presence  was  comforting.  He  trailed 
along  at  Dick's  side,  ate  with  him,  and  shared 
his  bed,  and,  in  return,  would  gladly  have  cleaned 
Dick's  boots  and  groomed  his  horse,  the  horse 
that  had  once  belonged  to  Captain  Oldesworth. 
He  knew  better,  however,  than  to  offer  such  ser- 
vice, so  he  satisfied  himself  with  taking  their  two 
horses  to  stable,  and  standing  over  the  groom 
who  cared  for  them  to  see  the  task  was  done  with- 
out shirking. 

On  the  night  they  lay  at  Banbury  he  came  in 
from  such  labor  and  in  their  chamber  found 
Strangwayes  unbuckling  his  cuirass,  and  singing, 


xi  COMRADES  IN  ARMS  181 

which  was  with  him  a  sign  of  either  very  good  or 
very  bad  fortune.  "What's  to  do,  Dick?  "  Hugh 
asked,  lighting  a  candle  at  the  fireplace. 

"  What  do  you  say  to  a  lieutenancy  to  the  front 
of  my  name  again,  and  over  seasoned  fighting 
men  this  time,  not  Jacks  such  as  I  misgoverned 
in  the  Scots  war  ?  " 

"  Sir  William  has  given  you  the  lieutenancy 
under  Turner  ? " 

"  Ay,  and  on  the  heel  of  that  comes  better : 
Turner's  troop  rides  for  service  into  Northamp- 
tonshire to-morrow." 

"  That's  well,"  Hugh  answered  rather  sorrow- 
fully, as  he  put  the  candle  on  the  table.  "  Luck  go 
with  you." 

"  Come  along  and  bring  it  to  us.  Ay,  you're 
to  go.  I  told  my  uncle  we  could  use  you  as  a 
volunteer.  You  see,  the  troop  is  short  one  officer 
since  Griffith  left." 

"  Yes?  "  Hugh  urged,  with  curiosity. 

"  I'm  promising  you  nothing,  remember,"  Strang- 
wayes  continued  soberly.  "  But  there's  that  vacant 
cornetcy,  and  you're  a  lad  of  a  steady  courage, — 
I  pray  you,  spare  blushing, —  and  of  a  discreeter 
head  than  most  of  your  years.  Now,  first,  you're 
to  ride  with  us  and  do  all  you  can  to  satisfy  Cap- 
tain Turner." 

"  Dick,  I  cannot  satisfy  him,"  Hugh  gasped, 
almost  bewildered  by  the  coolness  and  breadth  of 
Strangwayes'  plan.  "  Captain  Turner  never  does 
aught  but  fnock  me;  I'm  near  as  unhappy  with 
him  as  with  my  father."  He  could  have  bit  his 
tongue  for  the  ease  with  which  it  let  slip  such 
a  piece  of  the  truth,  but  Strangwayes  only  gave 


1 82  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

him  one  involuntary  look,  then  changed  the  subject 
hastily  to  the  matter  of  the  raid  into  Northamp- 
tonshire. 

Next  day,  when  his  Majesty  and  his  men  rode 
south  for  Oxford,  Captain  Turner,  Lieutenant 
Strangwayes,  and  Volunteer  Gwyeth,  with  some 
forty  troopers,  got  to  saddle  and  went  cantering 
eastward,  to  their  own  pleasure  and  the  discom- 
fort of  more  than  one  Puritan  of  Northampton- 
shire. It  was  partisan  warfare,  but  Turner  waged 
it  honorably;  and  Hugh,  after  he  once  got  used 
to  riding  with  his  hand  on  his  hilt  through  villages 
of  hostile,  scowling  people,  had  no  quarrel  with 
the  life. 

They  made  their  first  dash  for  a  country-house 
where  arms  and  powder  were  stored ;  there  was 
slight  resistance,  a  shot  or  two  without  damage,  a 
door  battered  in,  and  then  Hugh  was  detailed 
with  five  men  to  ransack  a  wing  of  the  house 
where  were  the  kitchen  and  offices.  As  they 
found  nothing  they  only  wearied  themselves  with 
the  thorough  search  Hugh  insisted  on,  and  got 
laughed  at  for  their  pains  by  a  fat  kitchen  wench. 
But  Strangwayes  and  his  squad  captured  six  mus- 
kets and  a  keg  of  powder,  though  he  came  away 
grumbling.  "  No  more  work  of  that  sort  for 
me,"  he  confided  to  Hugh.  "You,  you  rogue, 
were  safe  in  the  buttery,  while  I  was  rummaging 
the  parlor,  and  the  gentlewomen  stood  off  with 
their  skirts  gathered  round  them  and  glowered 
on  me  as  if  I  were  a  cutpurse.  I'm  thinking  the 
time  will  never  come  that  women  understand  the 
laws  of  war." 

Afterward  they  struck  into  a  small  town  where 


xi  COMRADES  IN   ARMS  183 

more  powder  was  said  to  be  hid.  Across  the  nar- 
row part  of  the  main  street  the  people  had  built 
a  barricade  of  carts  and  household  stuff,  so  Tur- 
ner, after  reconnoitring,  determined  on  a  charge. 
"  You  had  best  bear  the  colors,  Gwyeth,"  he  said, 
as  the  troop  fell  into  order  outside  the  village. 
"  Strangwayes  must  ride  at  the  rear,  and,  in  any 
case,  his  two  arms  are  of  more  profit  to  us  than 
yours." 

Hugh  forgave  the  sneer  as  the  cornet  of  the 
troop  was  put  into  his  hands.  Like  all  Sir 
William's  cornets,  it  was  a  red  flag  with  a  golden 
ball  upon  it,  the  prettiest  colors  in  the  world, 
Hugh  considered,  except  the  black  flag  with  the 
cross  of  gold  that  Colonel  Gwyeth's  troop  marched 
under.  Settling  the  staff  firmly  against  his  thigh, 
he  glanced  up  to  see  the  folds  of  the  flag  droop 
in  the  still  air,  then  took  his  place  by  Turner  at 
the  front  of  the  troop,  and,  a  moment  later,  charged 
in  behind  him.  The  stones  clicked  beneath  the 
horses'  feet,  the  cottages  sped  by,  the  barricade, 
whence  came  the  hateful  spitting  of  muskets,  was 
right  before  them.  Hugh  swerved  for  the  left 
end,  where  the  structure  was  lowest,  and  Bayard, 
gathering  himself  up,  cleared  it  at  a  leap.  Behind 
the  barricade  were  men  of  all  coats,  some  loading 
and  steadily  firing,  but  more  already  scrambling 
down  to  flee.  One,  crying  out  at  sight  of  Hugh, 
broke  away  the  faster ;  another  levelled  a  pistol  at 
him,  but  before  he  could  fire  Bayard's  hoofs  had 
struck  him  into  the  kennel.  Then  the  whole 
barricade  seemed  to  go  down  as  the  Cavaliers, 
some  still  in  the  saddle,  others  dismounted  to 
scramble  the  better,  came  pouring  over. 


1 84  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Thus  the  king's  men  possessed  themselves  of 
the  town  and  took  the  powder,  which  for  some 
days  to  come  supplied  them.  But  there  was  a 
price  to  pay,  for  in  the  encounter  they  had  two 
men  wounded,  one  of  whom  died  that  night,  and 
on  the  morrow  before  they  marched  was  buried 
in  an  orchard.  Hugh  never  forgot  the  look  of 
the  leafless  trees,  the  frosty  ground,  and  the  silent 
men,  who  stood  drawn  up,  with  their  breastpieces 
strapped  in  place,  all  ready  to  mount.  Each  tenth 
man  sat  his  horse  with  the  bridles  of  his  com- 
rades' steeds  in  his  hand,  and  there,  at  a  little 
distance  from  the  horses,  some  of  the  towns- 
people, loitering  with  curious,  unsympathetic 
faces,  peered  and  pointed  at  those  about  the 
grave.  They  buried  the  dead  trooper  without 
his  armor,  but  with  his  cloak  wrapped  round  him, 
and  Strangwayes,  standing  with  his  helmet  under 
one  arm,  read  the  burial  service.  For  the  life  of 
him  Hugh  could  not  help  thinking  of  that  sermon 
Dick  had  once  preached  to  Emry  and  his  friends, 
and  there  came  on  him  an  unbecoming  desire  to 
laugh,  which  mixed  with  a  choke  in  his  throat  so 
his  lips  moved  till  he  was  well  assured  Captain 
Turner  must  think  him  no  better  than  a  child. 

The  morning  sunlight  was  strong  when  they 
rode  away  from  the  orchard,  and  half  a  mile  out 
the  troopers  were  swearing  good-humoredly  at 
each  other,  and  Strangwayes  was  jesting  at  the 
bravery  of  the  town  watch,  a  single  countryman 
whom  he  had  hauled  out,  roaring  for  mercy,  from 
beneath  an  empty  cart.  Hugh  laughed  at  the 
tale,  and  laid  it  to  heart  that  in  war  no  man  can 
hold  regrets  long,  for  his  turn  may  come  next, 


xi  COMRADES  IN  ARMS  185 

and  what  little  life  may  be  left  him  is  not  given 
to  be  needlessly  saddened. 

So  he  designedly  carried  a  light  heart  under 
his  buff  jacket,  and  seized  what  enjoyment  he 
could  from  the  small  matters  of  everyday  work. 
He  was  happy  when  they  had  broiled  bacon  or  a 
chicken  for  supper,  which  was  not  often,  and 
thankful  for  any  makeshift  of  a  bed ;  he  took 
pleasure  in  cantering  Bayard  at  the  head  of  the 
troop,  and  watching  the  red  and  gold  cornet 
flutter  and  flap  above  him ;  and  he  liked  the 
fierce,  hard  knocks  of  the  skirmishes  they  had, 
in  little  villages  and  at  lonely  country-houses, 
here  and  there  through  the  shire.  But  when 
food  failed  and  there  was  no  bed  but  the  ground, 
when  he  was  weary  and  sore  with  much  riding, 
even  on  that  one  wretched  day  when  a  troop  of 
Roundhead  dragoons  fell  on  them  and  sent  them 
scampering  with  three  saddles  empty,  he  got  his 
best  content  from  Strangwayes'  friendship,  which 
made  him  surer  of  himself  and  readier  to  face 
the  world,  yet  humbler  in  his  efforts  to  keep  the 
affection  of  the  older  man. 

The  thought  that  the  winning  of  a  commission 
in  that  troop  meant  more  such  days  of  service 
with  Strangwayes  caused  Hugh  to  redouble  his 
efforts  to  please  Turner,  and  he  succeeded  so  far 
that  after  the  first  skirmish  the  captain  suffered 
him  to  carry  the  cornet.  For  the  rest,  Turner 
met  all  his  honest  efforts  and  prompt  obedience 
with  sarcasms  on  his  youth  and  simplicity,  which 
made  Hugh  wince  and  go  on  laboring  bravely. 
Only  one  word  of  approbation  did  he  get  of 
Turner;  that  was  on  a  pouring  wet  night  when 


1 86  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Hugh  came  in  from  a  watch  with  the  pickets, 
soaked  to  the  skin,  and,  finding  no  food,  lay  down 
without  a  word  on  the  floor  of  the  cottage  where 
the  officers  were  quartered,  and  went  sound  asleep. 
Through  his  waking  he  could  have  sworn  he 
heard  Turner  say,  "  After  all,  Lieutenant,  there's 
the  right  mettle  in  this  crop-headed  whelp." 

Though  when  Hugh  opened  his  eyes  and  saw 
Turner  standing  over  him  with  a  candle  in  his 
hand,  the  latter  only  said,  "  My  faith,  sir,  do  you 
ever  do  aught  but  sleep  ?  " 

Thus  with  work  and  enjoyment  of  work  the 
month  of  November  passed,  and  meantime  his 
Majesty  with  the  bulk  of  his  army  had  marched 
to  London,  and  then  marched  back  again.  After- 
ward men  said  a  kingdom  might  have  been 
gained  upon  that  journey  and  had  been  cast  away, 
but  at  that  time  Turner's  troop  had  only  rumors 
of  marches  and  countermarches,  till  in  the  early 
December  a  definite  order  reached  them  to  repair 
to  the  king's  headquarters  at  Oxford  and  join 
themselves  to  their  regiment. 

It  was  in  the  mid-afternoon  that  they  at  last 
rode  into  the  city,  where  the  High  Street  was  gay 
with  bravely  dressed  men  and  sleek  horses,  and 
the  old  gray  buildings  seemed  alive  with  people. 
So  many  fine  troops  were  passing  and  re-passing 
that  none  gave  special  heed  to  the  little  muddy 
band  out  of  Northamptonshire.  They  passed  un- 
noticed out  by  the  North  Gate  toward  the  parish 
of  St.  Giles,  where  quarters  had  been  assigned 
Sir  William's  regiment,  and  there,  in  the  dingy 
stable,  the  officers  parted.  Hugh  of  necessity 
surrendered  the  cornet  into  Turner's  hands  with 


xi  COMRADES  IN  ARMS  187 

a  last  regretful  look  at  its  idle  folds.  "  You  made 
shift  not  to  lose  it,  did  you  not,  sir  ?  "  the  captain 
said  with  some  kindness.  "  Why,  you're  no  more 
of  an.  encumbrance  to  a  troop  of  fighting  men 
than  most  youngsters  are." 

Then  Turner  and  Strangwayes  walked  away  to 
report  themselves  to  Sir  William,  while  Hugh 
remained  to  see  that  Bayard  and  Dick's  Black 
Boy  were  well  groomed.  To  tell  the  truth,  he 
was  glad  to  linger  in  the  stable  with  the  men 
among  whom  he  had  spent  the  last  month ;  he 
wondered  if  he  was  to  have  the  chance  to  serve 
with  them  always,  and  the  thought  made  him 
nearly  tremble  with  expectancy. 

He  was  loitering  by  the  stable  door,  when  he 
caught  sight  of  a  familiar  blue  jacket,  and  Frank 
Pleydall,  in  company  with  two  lads  of  his  own 
age,  came  swaggering  up.  "  So  you're  back 
again, are  you,  Hugh? "  he  cried,  with  a  boisterous 
embrace.  "  And  more  freckled  than  ever,  I 
swear !  Is  that  heavy-heeled  horse  of  yours  still 
unfoundered  ?  Nay,  don't  scowl,  I  mean  nothing. 
But  tell  me,  is  Michael  Turner's  troop  here  or  in 
the  stable  across  the  way  ?  I  want  to  have  a 
look  at  its  fighting  force." 

"  Wherefore  ?  "  Hugh  blurted  out  suspiciously. 

"  Why,  I'm  to  hold  Griffith's  cornetcy  in  it. 
Such  labor  as  I  had  to  win  it,  Hugh.  Talk  to 
my  father  night  and  day,  swear  I  had  the  strength 
and  discretion  of  twenty,  vow  to  run  away  if  he 
gave  it  not  to  me,  so  in  the  end  I  secured  it  of 
him.  Cornet  Pleydall ;  how  like  you  the  sound  ? 
I  told  you  I'd  coax  a  commission  of  him." 

"  You  will  find  Captain  Turner  a  gallant  man 


i88  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

to  serve  under,"  Hugh  said,  after  a  moment. 
"  Good-bye,  Frank,  I'm  weary  now.  I'll  speak 
with  you  to-morrow." 

With  that  he  passed  out  into  the  street  and 
headed  aimlessly,  he  cared  not  whither.  He  had 
not  known  till  now  how  sure  he  had  felt  of  that 
cornetcy.  And  that  a  mere  boy  like  Frank  should 
be  preferred  over  him,  because  his  kinsfolk  gave 
him  their  countenance !  For  one  instant  he 
almost  had  it  in  his  heart  to  wish  himself  back  at 
Everscombe,  still  believing  in  his  father,  and  still 
confident  the  world  stood  ready  to  receive  a  man 
kindly  for  his  own  endeavors. 

Too  wretched  to  think  or  lay  a  plan  for  the 
future,  he  plodded  up  and  down  the  crowded 
streets  till  it  grew  dusk  and  pitchy  dark,  when 
sheer  weariness  turned  him  to  his  quarters  ;  at 
least  Strangwayes  was  his  friend.  The  thought 
put  more  life  into  his  step  and  made  him  hurry  a 
little  with  impatience  till  he  had  sought  out  the 
baker's  shop,  in  an  upper  chamber  of  which  they 
were  to  lodge.  To  his  disappointment  Dick  had 
not  yet  come  in,  so  Hugh,  without  spirit  enough 
to  light  a  candle,  sat  down  on  a  stool  by  the  fire 
with  his  chin  in  his  hands  and  waited. 

When  he  heard  Strangwayes'  step  outside, 
he  endeavored  to  force  a  gay  tone  and  shouted 
him  a  greeting,  but  now  he  tried  to  use  it  his 
voice  broke  helplessly.  "  There,  I've  heard  it 
all,  Hugh,"  Strangwayes  said,  and  made  no  move- 
ment to  get  a  light;  "and  I'm  thinking  Turner 
takes  it  as  ill  as  we  do.  He  kept  an  assenting 
face  to  Sir  William,  of  course,  but  he  blurted 
out  to  me  that  the  deuce  was  in  it  that  a  little 


xi  COMRADES  IN  ARMS  189 

popinjay  like  Frank  must  be  thrust  into  our 
troop." 

Hugh  forced  a  desperate  laugh  that  ended  in 
a  choke. 

"  And  I've  another  piece  of  news  for  you," 
Strangwayes  went  on,  sitting  down  beside  him. 
"  Now  you  can  take  it  as  good  or  bad,  which 
you  please.  I'm  not  resolved  yet  myself.  You'll 
recollect  Peyton  was  shot  at  Edgehill,  and  we 
lost  many  men  from  the  regiment.  Well,  they've 
taken  another  troop  that  suffered  much  and  used 
it  to  fill  up  the  place.  And  a  new  captain  has 
been  put  over  it  under  Sir  William." 

"  Is  it  you,  Dick  ?  "  Hugh  asked. 

"  Nay,"  Strangwayes  answered,  with  a  chuckle ; 
"  'tis  a  one  time  independent  colonel,  Alan 
Gwyeth." 


CHAPTER  XII 

FOR  THE    HONOR   OF   THE   GWYETHS 

"  YOU'RE  free  to  take  it  as  you  choose,  good 
or  ill,"  Strangwayes  went  on ;  "  but  I  can  tell 
you  Colonel  Gwyeth  is  in  no  two  minds  about 
it." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  him,"  Hugh  answered,  after 
an  instant.  "  I  know  it  does  wring  a  man  to 
lose  a  commission  out  of  his  very  hands." 

"  Since  I  must  steer  to  the  windward  of  hypoc- 
risy, I  am  not  sorry  for  him,"  Strangwayes  re- 
turned. "  And  do  not  you  worry  yourself  over 
his  broken  spirit,  Hugh ;  so  far  he  has  borne 
up  stoutly.  At  the  last  report  he  was  ranging 
about  with  his  sword  at  ready,  bent  on  scoring 
out  all  his  wrongs  upon  Master  Philip  Bellasis." 

"Philip  Bellasis?"  queried  Hugh,  struggling 
to  recall  what  that  name  stood  for.  "  What  has 
he  to  do  in  this  matter  ? " 

"  The  simplicity  of  untutored  youth  !  "  Strang- 
wayes' voice  came  pityingly.  "  Why,  'tis  clear 
as  most  logic:  my  Lord  Bellasis  of  the  king's 
council  disapproves  of  these  small  independent 
troops,  and  has  given  his  voice  loudest,  'tis  said, 
for  merging  Gwyeth's  horse  into  Sir  William's 
regiment ;  ergo,  Colonel  Gwyeth  has  taken  my 
Lord  Bellasis  into  his  hatred.  My  Lord  Bel- 

190 


CH.  xn    FOR  THE   HONOR  OF  THE   GWYETHS     191 

lasis  is  blessed  with  the  gout;  ergo,  Colonel 
Gwyeth,  not  to  waste  so  precious  a  commodity 
as  hatred  upon  a  disabled  man,  transfers  all  his 
intentions  to  my  lord's  swashbuckling  son  Philip. 
For,  granting  the  colonel's  temper,  he  must  fight 
something  now,  and  he  would  vastly  prefer  some- 
thing of  the  name  of  Bellasis." 

Hugh  still  kept  his  old  place  without  offering 
comment,  so  Strangwayes,  after  a  moment  or 
two,  rose  and  lit  a  candle  at  the  hearth.  He 
did  not  pause  even  to  slip  off  his  accoutrements, 
but,  holding  the  light,  began  roaming  about  the 
chamber  on  inspection,  and  communicating  the 
results  of  his  researches  to  his  companion :  "  We 
might  be  worse  placed.  Two  flights  of  stairs 
upward  from  the  ground,  so  the  air  should  be 
delicate  and  wholesome.  Also  the  room  is  so 
small  the  fireplace  ought  to  heat  it  well.  And 
for  the  lack  of  furnishings,  the  emptiness  -near 
cheats  a  man  into  believing  he  has  space  enough 
to  stretch  himself.  A  contented  spirit,  mark  you, 
is  an  admirable  necessity  in  a  soldier." 

In  the  end  he  brought  up  at  the  nearer  of  the 
two  windows,  which  he  opened,  and,  after  a  long 
look  out  into  the  night,  drew  in  his  head  again 
with  a  soberer  face.  "  If  I  risked  myself  a  hand- 
breadth  further  from  the  casement,  I  think  I 
could  make  out  the  roofs  of  St.  John's,"  he  said, 
sitting  down  quietly,  with  the  one  small  table 
betwixt  himself  and  Hugh.  "  'Tis  the  good  old 
college  of  which  I  was  so  unworthy  a  son.  I  am 
glad  we  lie  near  it." 

"Where  is  the  rest  of  the  regiment?"  Hugh 
asked. 


i92  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

"  Sir  William  and  most  of  his  officers  lodge 
just  over  the  way  at  a  merchant's  house ;  Turner 
and  Chadwell  and  Seymour  are  here  under  the 
roof  with  us.  We'll  all  meet  together  at  Sir 
William's  table." 

Hugh  started  back  on  his  stool  so  he  nearly 
overset  himself.  "  Dick,"  he  burst  out,  "  that 
means  that  thrice  a  day  I  shall  be  forced  face  to 
face  with  Colonel  Gwyeth." 

Strangwayes  nodded,  and  then,  the  sheer  ab- 
surdity of  the  whole  position  coming  over  them, 
they  both  went  into  a  fit  of  laughter. 

Hugh  recovered  himself  with  a  saner  feeling  of 
self-possession.  "  After  all,  it's  very  simple,"  he 
said  aloud ;  "  he'll  take  no  note  of  me,  I  know, 
and  I'll  bear  me  as  I  would  to  Captain  Turner, 
or  any  of  the  older  men." 

But,  in  spite  of  his  stout  words,  when  he  woke 
in  the  dark  of  next  morning  Hugh  could  not 
sleep  again  for  thinking  of  Colonel  Gwyeth,  and 
wondering  if  he  would  see  him  at  breakfast  and 
if  the  colonel  would  speak  to  him. 

When  he  first  entered  the  long  upper  chamber 
of  the  house  across  the  way  that  served  the  offi- 
cers for  dining  hall,  he  looked  about  him,  half 
eager  and  half  in  dread,  and  despising  himself  for 
both  emotions.  But  he  saw  no  sign  of  Alan 
Gwyeth,  Colonel  Gwyeth,  as  he  named  him  to 
himself,  for  all  he  was  now  a  mere  captain.  Two 
of  the  officers  of  the  old  independent  troop,  a 
German,  Von  Holzberg,  and  a  certain  Foster,  who 
had  come  over  into  the  regiment  with  the  colonel, 
Frank  pointed  out  to  him  ;  but  Hugh  only  glanced 
at  the  men  and  went  on  eating.  He  wondered  if 


xii        FOR  THE  HONOR  OF  THE   GWYETHS       193 

it  had  been  either  of  them  that  shoved  him  off 
the  steps  that  night  at  Shrewsbury,  and  he  had 
no  desire  to  come  in  contact  with  them. 

After  breakfast  Frank  Pleydall  haled  him  off  to 
view  the  city.  "  You  might  spare  me  one  hour 
away  from  your  Dick  Strangwayes,"  the  younger 
lad  complained.  "  But  I  knew  after  you  got  sight 
of  him  you'd  not  have  a  word  for  me." 

Hugh  felt  conscience-stricken,  so  he  forced 
himself  to  be  very  pleasant  to  Frank,  in  spite  of 
the  boy's  persisting  in  talking  of  Turner's  troop 
and  his  new  cornetcy.  Before  they  reached  the 
High  Street  of  the  city,  however,  they  were  joined 
by  several  other  youngsters,  one  a  lad  from  Mag- 
dalen, the  others,  boys  whose  fathers  were  serving 
the  king,  with  all  of  whom  Frank  seemed  to  have 
a  ripe  acquaintance.  Hugh  concluded  Master 
Pleydall  was  not  suffering  for  companionship,  and 
presently  he  concluded,  too,  it  was  a  companion- 
ship into  which  he  could  not  hope  to  enter.  He 
had  an  unhappy  feeling  of  aloofness  from  the 
amusements  of  these  boys;  he  knew  next  to 
nothing  of  bowls  or  dice  of  which  they  spoke, 
and  when  one  lad  began  to  jeer  another  about  a 
girl,  he  did  not  understand.  So  presently  he 
took  his  leave  of  Frank,  who  was  too  busied  with 
his  comrades  to  take  much  heed  of  his  going,  and 
started  back  by  himself  to  his  quarters. 

He  was  walking  rather  slowly,  to  study  the 
landmarks  he  had  noted  and  find  his  way  without 
inquiry,  when  some  one  took  him  a  boisterous 
clap  on  the  shoulder.  Facing  about  with  a  deal 
of  indignation  in  his  movement,  he  found  it  was 
George  Allestree,  who  merely  stood  back  and 


i94  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

laughed  at  him.  "  You  need  but  two  wings  to 
make  a  paragon  of  a  turkey  cock,  Hugh  Gwyeth," 
he  said  amusedly.  "  Are  you  looking  for  diver- 
sion ?  Come  along  with  me.  I  am  sick  for  some 
one  to  talk  with." 

Perhaps  it  was  not  a  complimentary  invitation, 
but  Allestree  followed  it  up  by  being  so  cordial 
and  jolly  that  Hugh  went  with  him  out  to  the 
walks  of  Magdalen,  and  back  into  the  city 
to  dine  at  an  ordinary.  They  had  only  just 
come  out  into  the  street  again,  when  Hugh  per- 
ceived a  sudden  surging  of  the  foot  passengers 
about  him  to  the  edge  of  the  kennel,  and  such 
horsemen  as  were  passing  drew  to  the  side  to 
leave  the  way  clear.  Then  some  one  raised  a 
cry,  "  The  king ! "  and  others  began  cheering. 
Allestree  caught  Hugh's  sleeve  and  drew  him  up 
a  flight  of  steps,  whence,  looking  over  the  heads  of 
the  people,  they  could  see  a  little  band  of  mounted 
gentlemen  come  slowly  pacing  down  the  High 
Street. 

"  Look  you  there,  'tis  Prince  Rupert,"  Alles- 
tree cried  loudly,  to  be  heard  through  the  cheer- 
ing, and  Hugh  took  a  long  look  at  a  tall  young 
man  in  a  scarlet  coat,  whose  whole  attention  was 
fixed  upon  his  restless  horse.  Then  he  heard  the 
cheers  redouble,  and  Allestree  had  now  joined  his 
voice  to  the  uproar.  Right  before  the  spot  where 
he  stood  Hugh  got  sight  in  the  midst  of  the 
horsemen  of  one  with  a  pointed  beard  and  slender 
face,  who  bowed  his  head  never  so  slightly  to 
those  who  cheered  around  him. 

Then  the  horsemen  had  passed  by,  men 
turned  to  go  their  way  once  more,  and  Allestree 


xn        FOR  THE   HONOR  OF  THE  GWYETHS       195 

replaced  his  hat  on  his  head.  "  Had  you  lost 
your  voice,  Hugh,  that  you  could  not  cheer?"  he 
asked  curiously. 

"  No,"  Hugh  answered,  as  he  followed  down 
from  the  steps,  "  I  was  thinking." 

"  'Tis  a  bad  practice.     What  was  it  of  ? " 

"  I  was  thinking  his  Majesty  looks  much  as 
other  men." 

"  Indeed  ?     And  what  else  ?  " 

"  I  was  wondering,"  Hugh  said  half  to  himself, 
"  which  had  the  right  of  it,  you  that  do  ever  so 
extol  him,  or  my  grandfather  who  laid  the  blame 
of  all  this  on  him." 

"  Because  your  hair  is  clipped  you've  no  need 
to  wear  '  Roundhead '  in  your  heart,"  Allestree 
answered  sharply.  "  None  but  a  boy  or  a  fool 
would  speak  so."  Then,  as  Hugh  looked  abashed, 
the  other  moderated  his  tone,  and,  talking  care- 
lessly of  this  and  that,  they  came  at  length  to 
Allestree's  quarters,  close  outside  the  North  Gate. 

There  Allestree  would  have  Hugh  out  to  the 
troop  stables,  to  show  him  Captain  Butler's  game- 
cocks ;  and,  in  the  midst  of  it,  Butler  himself 
walked  into  the  stable.  Hugh  remembered  his 
dark,  low-browed  face  very  well  from  their  first 
encounter,  but  he  was  surprised  and  a  little  flat- 
tered also  to  find  the  captain  knew  him  at  the 
mention  of  his  name.  "  The  brave  lad  that  saved 
me  my  old  friend  Strangwayes,"  Butler  said, 
with  a  bit  of  an  Irish  accent,  and  shook  hands 
kindly,  then  lingered  to  set  forth  the  graces  of  the 
gamecocks.  "  Gloucestershire  birds,  those,"  he 
explained.  "  They  were  hatched  of  rebel  eggs, 
but  I  held  it  sin  to  leave  them  to  tempt  a  good 


196  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Puritan  brother  into  seeing  a  cockfight.  So  I 
just  made  bold  to  muster  them  into  the  king's 
service." 

"  We  must  put  them  to't  soon,  Captain,"  said 
Allestree,  and,  when  Hugh  left  them,  a  good  hour 
later,  they  were  still  discussing  the  cocks. 

It  was  near  dark  when  Hugh  came  at  last  to 
Sir  William's  quarters.  The  loud  talk  of  the 
men  above  stairs  brought  him  at  once  up  to  the 
dining  room,  where  he  found  several  officers  loiter- 
ing. "  Trust  that  red  devil  Gwyeth,"  Lieutenant 
Chadwell  was  saying ;  "  he  ran  Bellasis  down,  be 
sure." 

"  Fight,  did  they  ?  "  asked  another. 

"  They  set  out  together  this  afternoon.  Yes, 
they've  crossed  blades  ere  this." 

"  Do  you  know  who  had  the  better  of  it  ? " 
Hugh  cried,  thrusting  himself  into  the  circle. 

Chadwell  looked  up  at  him  impatiently,  then 
answered, "  No  " ;  and  Hugh,  staying  for  no  more, 
ran  out  of  the  room. 

Clattering  down  the  stairway  to  the  outer  door, 
he  dodged  by  Turner,  who,  facing  about  on  the 
stair,  called,  "  Whither  are  you  summoned  in  such 
haste?" 

"  To  the  city.  To  get  news  of  the  duel," 
Hugh  replied,  over  his  shoulder. 

"  There's  no  need  to  go  that  far,"  Turner  an- 
swered moderately;  and  then,  as  Hugh  came 
stumbling  back  to  him  up  the  stairs,  went  on: 
"  Bellasis  was  worsted,  a  thrust  through  the 
shoulder.  Captain  Gwyeth  came  off  unscathed." 

"I  was  afraid  — "  Hugh  said,  clinching  his 
hand  about  the  balustrade  as  he  stood. 


xn        FOR  THE   HONOR  OF  THE  GWYETHS       197 

"  Of  what?"  Turner  questioned  dryly.  "  Has  the 
gentleman  been  such  a  good  friend  — "  He  broke 
off  there,  and  looked  at  Hugh.  "  I  crave  your 
pardon  for  that  last,  Master  Gwyeth,"  he  said, 
without  sarcasm,  and  walked  away  up  the  stairs. 

That  night  at  supper  it  seemed  marvellous  to 
Hugh  that  men  could  speak  or  think  of  anything 
but  the  duel.  However,  there  was  more  speech 
of  fortifying  the  city  and  of  the  storming  of  Marl- 
borough  than  of  Captain  Gwyeth's  affairs,  so  he 
was  glad  to  get  away  to  his  room,  where  at  least 
there  were  none  to  interrupt  his  own  thoughts. 

Late  in  the  evening  Strangwayes  joined  him. 
"  Yes,  yes,  you  can  spare  words ;  I've  heard  all 
about  that  duel,"  he  greeted  Hugh ;  "  and  the 
town'll  hear  more  to-morrow.  Captain  Gwyeth 
has  just  sent  a  message  to  Sir  William;  he  passed 
it  on  to  me,  and  I'll  do  the  like  by  you.  Hang  me 
if  the  provost  did  not  pounce  down  on  the  captain 
almost  ere  he  quit  the  field,  and  haled  him  off  to 
the  Castle.  They  want  no  duelling  among  the 
king's  men." 

"  Will  they  punish  him  ?  "  Hugh  asked  breath- 
lessly. 

"  Much ! "  Strangwayes  answered,  with  vast  con- 
tempt. "  He  did  but  nick  Bellasis,  and  if  report 
be  true  that  fellow's  injury  is  no  loss  to  the  king- 
dom. If  he  had  killed  him  it  might  be  otherwise, 
for  Bellasis  has  great  kindred,  civilians,  too,  who 
would  not  scruple  to  bring  the  law  on  his  slayer, 
but  as  'tis —  Why,  they'll  but  hold  him  at  the 
Castle  a  few  days  to  encourage  those  of  us  who 
are  of  like  inclination,  and  then  he'll  come  abroad 
again."  Then  something  of  the  warmth  of  his 


198  HUGH   GWYETH  ca 

tone  abated,  and  he  laughed  to  himself.  "  Tis  an 
ill  wind  that  blows  no  one  good,  eh,  Hugh  ?  You 
can  eat  your  daily  bread  in  peace  now ;  for  the 
present  Captain  Gwyeth  cannot  vex  you." 

Indeed,  now  the  constant  expectation  of  meet- 
ing with  Alan  Gwyeth  was  removed,  Hugh  found 
it  far  easier  to  fit  himself  to  the  routine  of  his 
new  life.  At  first,  to  be  sure,  it  cut  him  every 
time  he  saw  Strangwayes  buckle  on  his  sword 
and  clank  away  to  the  exercise  of  his  troop,  and 
he  winced  at  every  boasting  word  Frank  let  fall 
of  the  great  things  he  meant  to  do  now  he  was  a 
full-fledged  cornet.  But  he  soon  found  that  even 
a  gentleman  volunteer  who  had  failed  of  a  com- 
mission could  be  of  use,  where  the  fortifications 
on  the  north  and  southeast  were  digging ;  so  for 
some  days  he  spent  hours  in  the  varied  assembly 
of  college  men  and  townsfolk,  who  labored  with 
pick  and  shovel  at  the  trenches.  It  was  inglori- 
ous work  for  a  soldier,  and  it  was  hard  work  that 
sent  him  to  quarters  with  blistered  hands  and 
aching  back.  Frank  joked  him  a  little  on  turn- 
ing ditcher,  some  of  the  other  men  chaffed,  and 
even  Strangwayes  raised  his  eyebrows  with  the 
dry  question,  "  Is  it  necessary  ? " 

"  If  the  king  cannot  use  me  in  one  way,  I  must 
serve  him  in  another,  since  I  am  eating  his  bread," 
Hugh  replied  doggedly. 

Whereat  Strangwayes'  eyes  laughed,  and  he 
prayed  Hugh,  if  he  thought  'twould  make  no  dif- 
ference to  the  king,  to  quit  the  trenches  for  that 
afternoon  and  come  ride  with  him.  "  Your  aim 
is  to  be  a  soldier,  is  it  not?"  he  asked,  as  they 
paced  along  the  western  road  beyond  the  High 
Bridge. 


xn    FOR  THE  HONOR  OF  THE  GWYETHS   199 

"Yes,  if  I  can  get  me  a  commission;  'tis  all 
there  is  for  me." 

"  Good.  I  began  to  doubt  if  you  had  not  de- 
termined to  turn  pioneer.  Dig  in  the  trenches 
somewhat,  by  all  means,  and  learn  what  you  can 
of  how  men  build  fortifications  and  how  the 
engineers  devise  them.  But  you  must  not  for 
that  neglect  your  horse  and  your  sword.  That 
brings  it  to  my  mind,  Hugh ;  you  should  know 
something  of  rapier  play  as  well  as  the  broad- 
sword. There's  a  Frenchman  in  the  city  shall 
teach  it  you." 

Hugh  stammered  something,  with  his  eyes  on 
the  pommel  of  his  saddle. 

"  'Twill  be  a  favor  to  me  if  you  will  take  these 
lessons  of  him,"  Strangwayes  put  in  hastily.  "  I 
knew  the  man  in  my  college  days ;  he  owes  me 
somewhat  from  them  and  would  gladly  return  it 
thus." 

So,  early  as  next  morning,  Strangwayes  marched 
Hugh  over  to  a  dingy  lane  that  led  from  the  Corn 
market,  and  up  a  narrow  stair  to  a  bare  room, 
where  he  presented  him  to  Monsieur  de  Severac,  a 
fierce  small  man  with  mustaches.  De  Severac 
stood  Hugh  up  with  a  rebated  sword  in  his  hand, 
and  thrust  at  him,  talking  rapidly  in  a  mixture  of 
French  and  English,  while  Hugh  vainly  tried  to 
parry  the  point  that  invariably  got  home  upon  his 
body.  He  came  away  bewildered  and  sore,  to 
find  the  dull  labor  of  the  trenches,  where  at  least 
he  knew  what  was  expected  of  him,  a  downright 
comfort.  But  little  by  little,  as  the  lessons  went 
on,  he  began  to  find  a  method  beneath  it  all,  and 
to  get  real  pleasure  from  wielding  the  long,  light 


200  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

rapier,  so  different  from  the  broadsword  to  which 
he  had  been  used.  De  Severac  even  admitted 
one  day  that  he  had  a  steady  hand,  and  with 
practice  might  make  a  creditable  swordsman. 

With  a  great  desire  to  whistle,  Hugh  walked 
back  to  dinner,  and,  two  steps  at  a  time,  ran  up 
the  stairs  at  Sir  William's  house,  a  bit  before  the 
hour,  he  judged,  for  he  found  the  dining  room  to 
all  appearances  empty.  Then,  as  he  stepped 
across  the  threshold,  he  caught  sight  of  Von  Holz- 
berg,  standing  in  one  of  the  deep  window  re- 
cesses, and  beside  him  a  man  with  red  hair,  who  at 
his  step  turned  and  looked  at  him.  It  was  Alan 
Gwyeth.  For  a  moment  he  stared  steadily  at 
Hugh,  and  by  his  face  the  boy  could  not  tell 
whether  his  humor  were  good  or  ill;  then  he 
bowed  to  him  curtly,  as  any  one  of  the  captains 
might  have  done,  and  continued  his  speech  with 
Von  Holzberg.  They  spoke  in  German,  Hugh 
observed,  in  the  instant  that  he  halted  mechani- 
cally before  he  turned  on  his  heel  and  went  out  of 
the  room.  He  had  no  desire  to  whistle  now;  he 
only  knew  that  he  was  heavy  with  a  great  disap- 
pointment, that  was  none  the  less  overwhelming 
for  being  utterly  vague. 

But,  in  the  end,  he  found  that  matters  went  the 
more  smoothly,  now  the  dreaded  meeting  was  over. 
It  grew  in  time  a  mere  daily  and  expected  occur- 
rence to  see  Captain  Gwyeth  among  the  officers, 
and  to  receive  from  him,  in  the  course  of  ordinary 
civility,  sometimes  a  short  bow,  once  or  twice  a 
curt  good  morrow.  But,  though  Hugh  repeated 
to  himself  it  was  all  he  had  looked  to  receive  of 
the  man,  there  slowly  grew  in  him  an  unrealized 


xn   FOR  THE  HONOR  OF  THE  GWYETHS   201 

sense  of  resentment  that  hitherto  had  had  no 
place  in  him.  He  ceased  to  look  wistfully  toward 
Captain  Gwyeth,  but  made  it  a  point  to  talk 
busily  with  Frank  or  Dick  or  others  that  he 
knew  when  he  came  in  his  father's  sight,  and  to 
return  the  other's  scant  bows  with  equal  curtness. 

Meantime  other  occupations  and  interests  than 
the  affairs  of  the  mess  room  were  busying  him. 
The  ground  was  now  too  hard  for  digging,  but 
the  fencing  lessons  still  went  on,  as  Hugh's  bruised 
face  and  aching  body  often  testified.  He  had  also 
come  once  more,  at  a  hint  of  an  invitation  from 
Turner,  to  take  his  place  in  the  ranks  and  go 
through  whatever  exercises  the  troop  was  put  to. 
Try  as  he  would,  though,  a  little  bitterness  still 
came  into  his  heart  at  sight  of  Frank,  carrying  the 
red  and  gold  cornet,  so  he  was  happier  when, 
formal  drill  over,  he  could  ride  away  whither  he 
listed  on  Bayard. 

When  rapier  and  horse  both  failed  of  interest, 
Hugh  had  recourse  to  John  Ridydale,  whose 
quarters  in  a  by-street  he  had  speedily  discovered. 
With  small  coaxing  he  persuaded  the  corporal  to 
drill  him  in  handling  pistol  and  carabine,  an  ex- 
ercise which  involved  the  shooting  off  of  an  amaz- 
ing quantity  of  his  Majesty's  powder  and  ball  at 
practice  marks  in  the  fields  of  the  west  suburbs. 
Hugh,  after  peppering  away  bravely,  came  home 
in  great  enthusiasm  to  Strangwayes,  who  laughed 
a  little,  and  finally  remarked  one  day,  "  And  do 
but  think,  too,  how  that  honest  corporal  will  go 
singing  your  perfections  to  Captain  Gwyeth." 
Whereat  Hugh  grew  thoughtful,  and  somewhat 
curtailed  his  shooting  trips. 


202  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

After  that,  especially  as  fouler  weather  closed 
in,  he  exercised  much  in  Turner's  troop  stable, 
where  Frank  kept  a  wooden  horse  for  vaulting, 
which  he  took  great  profit  in  seeing  Hugh  use. 
"  'Tis  such  a  pleasure  to  look  on  animation  of  a 
cold  morning,"  young  Pleydall  remarked  one  day, 
as  he  stood  shivering  in  his  cloak.  "  But  do  you 
get  enjoyment  of  it  ?  " 

Hugh,  who  sat  in  his  shirt-sleeves  swinging  his 
legs  on  the  back  of  the  horse,  merely  laughed  and 
drew  his  left  hand  up  and  down  his  spare,  sinewy 
right  arm.  He  had  grown  a  little  that  winter, 
and  he  was  beginning  also  to  learn  the  power  that 
was  latent  in  each  muscle.  Just  now  he  was 
thinking  to  himself  that  if  it  ever  came  again  to 
rough  and  tumble  hand-grips  with  Peregrine 
Oldesworth,  such  as  they  had  had  in  the  days 
at  Everscombe,  his  cousin  would  not  be  quite  so 
sure  of  the  mastery. 

Aside  from  the  fact  that  he  was  still  an  un- 
commissioned volunteer,  Hugh's  only  quarrel  with 
his  busy  life  that  winter  was  that  he  saw  little  of 
Dick  Strangwayes.  His  friend's  chamber  and 
purse  were  at  his  disposal,  but  his  time  Strang- 
wayes himself  was  not  master  of ;  not  only  did  his 
duties  in  the  troop  require  him,  but  he  had  in  the 
city  and  in  the  colleges  many  friends  to  whom  he 
gave  much  of  himself.  Hugh  valued  the  more 
the  moments  he  had  with  his  comrade  at  their 
chamber,  and,  for  the  rest,  sought  himself  com- 
panionship where  he  could.  Frank,  too,  had 
associates  of  his  own,  for  whom  Hugh  had  no 
great  affection,  so  as  a  last  choice  he  resorted  to 
George  Allestree,  who  showed  his  friendship  by 


xii        FOR  THE   HONOR  OF  THE  GWYETHS       203 

introducing  him  to  all  the  taverns  and  ordinaries 
in  the  city.  It  was  Allestree,  too,  who,  when  he 
found  Hugh  took  in  great  seriousness  his  inten- 
tion of  becoming  a  soldier,  unearthed  a  fat  book, 
"  The  Soldier's  Grammar  and  Accidence,"  by  one 
Gervase  Markham,  and  told  the  boy  he  would 
get  from  that  all  the  theory  of  war  he  wanted. 
"  I'll  read  it  speedily  and  return  it  to  you,  George," 
Hugh  said  gratefully. 

"  Prithee,  don't  hurry  yourself,"  Allestree  an- 
swered quickly.  "  Ten  years  hence  is  quite  soon 
enough  for  my  needs." 

Indeed,  Hugh  did  not  find  Gervase  Markham 
exciting  reading,  but,  to  the  silent  enjoyment  of 
Strangwayes,  he  dutifully  labored  through  his 
pages.  He  was  hard  at  work  on  Markham  one 
morning,  with  his  chin  on  one  fist  and  his  elbow 
on  the  table.  Only  his  eyes  were  not  on  the 
book,  but  ranging  out  at  the  casement,  for  it  was 
in  early  February  and  the  sky  was  blue,  and  Hugh 
was  thinking  how  the  buds  would  be  bursting 
soon  on  the  beeches  in  the  park  at  Everscombe. 

"  Did  you  note  the  Worcestershire  parson  who 
sat  at  our  table  last  night  ? "  suddenly  spoke 
Strangwayes,  who  was  shaving  at  the  little  mir- 
ror between  the  windows. 

"  Frank  said  he  was  an  old  tutor  whom  Sir 
William  held  in  much  respect,"  Hugh  answered, 
bringing  his  gaze  back  to  the  room. 

"Well,  he  was  set  next  Captain  Gwyeth,  and 
I  was  the  other  side,  so  I  enjoyed  their  discourse. 
It  seems  the  parson  was  much  attracted  by  you." 
Strangwayes  tipped  his  head  on  one  side  while 
he  scraped  the  razor  along  his  cheek,  and  spoke 


204  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

disjointedly.  "  Something,  either  the  way  you 
thrust  up  that  square  chin  of  yours,  or  your  pretty 
habit  of  not  speaking  to  your  elders  unless  they 
address  you,  —  except  in  my  case,  for  you  con- 
stantly fail  in  respect  to  me,  —  well,  you  much 
pleased  the  gentleman,  so  he  asked  the  captain 
your  name.  And  the  captain  told  him.  '  Your 
son,  sir  ? '  says  he,  and  falls  to  congratulating  the 
captain  on  your  fine  bearing  and  —  nay,  I'll  spare 
you.  But  I'm  thinking  Captain  Gwyeth  did  not 
relish  his  supper."  There  was  an  instant's  pause 
while  Strangwayes,  with  his  head  thrown  back, 
shaved  warily  beneath  his  chin  ;  then  he  laid  down 
the  razor  and  faced  about.  "  Will  you  believe  it, 
Hugh  ?  "  he  said,  in  something  between  jest  and 
seriousness,  "  I'm  thinking  if  you  should  go  very 
humbly,  hat  in  hand,  to  the  captain  and  say,  '  Sir, 
I  bore  myself  very  frowardly  and  peevishly  toward 
you,  but  now  I  am  ready  to  submit  me,'  I'm  think- 
ing he  would  rate  you  soundly  and  —  henceforth 
maintain  you  himself." 

"Doubtless  he  will,  —  when  I  go  unto  him  so," 
Hugh  said  shortly. 

Strangwayes  laughed  a  little,  then  fell  to  talk- 
ing of  indifferent  matters,  while  he  put  on  his 
coat  and  fastened  his  belt.  "  I  saw  Phil  Bellasis 
in  the  city  yesterday,"  he  ended.  "  Perhaps  to 
even  matters  he's  looking  for  Captain  Gwyeth 
now." 

"  I  should  think  one  lesson  would  suffice  for 
him,"  Hugh  replied ;  and  then,  as  Dick  tramped 
away,  turned  his  attention  again  to  Gervase 
Markham. 

But  reading  or  any  serious  pursuit  was  out  of 


xn   FOR  THE  HONOR  OF  THE  GWYETHS   205 

the  question  on  those  blue  spring  days  in  the 
midst  of  winter.  There  was  near  a  week  of  such 
weather,  in  which  poor  Gervase  was  left  to  gather 
dust  on  the  chimney-piece,  and  Monsieur  de  Seve- 
rac  expostulated  at  Hugh's  inattention.  The  boy's 
heart  was  idling  out  in  the  open  air,  and  his  body 
must  needs  follow.  He  galloped  Bayard  round 
about  the  city  till  he  knew  the  roads  to  weariness, 
and  then,  descending  upon  George  Allestree,  he 
dragged  him  out  to  tramp  in  the  slushy  remnants 
of  the  last  snow. 

"  We'll  even  up  scores  now,"  Allestree  said  one 
afternoon.  "  You've  haled  me  through  the  mire, 
which  I  loathe,  and  now  I'll  make  you  sup  in  the 
city  with  me,  which  I  know  you  abhor." 

So  it  was  that  in  the  evening  Hugh  found  him- 
self blinking  sleepily  in  a  brightly  lighted  room 
above  a  city  ordinary,  and  roused  up  only  at  the 
click  of  the  dice.  At  one  of  the  small  tables 
Allestree  and  Lieutenant  Seymour,  who  had 
joined  them,  were  deep  in  play,  so  Hugh  got  up 
and  stood  watching  them.  In  spite  of  all  urgings 
he  did  not  play  himself ;  the  forty-five  shillings 
he  brought  from  Edgehill  had  lasted  him  well  for 
spending  money,  but  he  had  none  to  squander  on 
the  dice. 

He  looked  up  to  the  door  as  several  new- 
comers entered,  —  civilians,  from  their  lack  of 
any  regimental  badge.  "  Why,  is't  not  Bellasis 
yonder  ?  "  Seymour  asked,  dicebox  in  hand. 

"  Hm,"  grunted  Allestree.     "  Throw." 

Hugh  glanced  curiously  at  the  men,  who  had 
placed  themselves  at  the  next  table.  One  that 
sat  on  the  farther  side  —  a  sallow,  long-legged 


206  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

fellow  of  thirty  —  he  held  to  be  Bellasis;  meeting 
the  man's  eyes,  his  thoughts  went  back  to  the 
day  of  Edgehill,  when  Bellasis  had  nearly  ridden 
down  Frank,  and  he  felt  sure  of  the  identifica- 
tion. Then  he  turned  to  watch  Allestree's  play ; 
how  many  throws  had  passed  he  did  not  know, 
when,  hearing  some  one  speak  near  by,  he  lis- 
tened carelessly. 

"  Oh,  you  do  not  know  him,  then  ?  "  a  curt, 
incisive  voice  reached  him.  "  Well,  'tis  no  won- 
der. The  puppy  was  whelped  in  a  gutter." 

Hugh  felt  a  hot  prickling  clear  to  the  back 
of  his  neck;  but,  although  his  whole  attention 
was  now  riveted  to  those  behind  him,  he  did  not 
turn. 

"  Yes,  groom  to  a  gang  of  common  foot  sol- 
diers. A  fellow  of  the  name  of  Strangwayes 
took  him  thence  in  charity  and  employed  him 
as  body  servant." 

"  I  stake  you  ten  shillings,"  said  Allestree, 
reaching  well  across  the  table. 

"  I  take  it,"  answered  Seymour. 

Hugh  leaned  a  little  forward  with  his  clinched 
hands  resting  on  the  table,  and  listened,  not  to 
them,  but  to  Philip  Bellasis. 

"  Pshaw !  how  would  you  have  it  ?  "  the  scorn- 
ful voice  went  on.  "  'Tis  bad  blood  there.  Now 
Alan  Gwyeth  —  " 

Hugh  swung  round  on  his  heel ;  the  candles 
dazzled  up  and  down  before  him,  but  he  could 
make  out  Bellasis,  resting  his  chin  on  one  hand 
as  he  sat,  and  speaking  straight  at  him :  "  Alan 
Gwyeth,  you'll  remember,  was  but  a  broken  Ger- 
man cutthroat,  who  lost  his  commission  here  for 
cowardice  —  " 


xn        FOR  THE  HONOR  OF  THE   GWYETHS       207 

"  Sit  down,  Hugh  !  "  Allestree  cried. 

Hugh  could  feel  Allestree's  grasp  tighten  on 
his  arm,  but,  shaking  him  off,  he  walked  across 
to  the  table  where  Bellasis  sat.  The  room  was 
very  still,  and  in  the  silence  his  voice  sounded 
husky  and  low.  "  You  spoke  of  Alan  Gwyeth," 
he  began  slowly.  "  When  you  call  him  a  coward, 
I  tell  you  you  lie  in  your  throat ! " 

Then  he  leaned  across  the  table  and  smote 
Bellasis  on  the  mouth. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

IN   THE    FIELDS    TOWARD    OSNEY   ABBEY 

IT  was  dark  in  the  passage  outside  the  door, 
and  Hugh  fumbled  stupidly  to  find  the  latch. 
Inside  two  patches  of  moonlight,  checkered  like 
the  diamond  panes  of  the  windows,  lay  on  the 
floor.  Hugh  stood  staring  at  them  dully  a  mo- 
ment before  he  spoke,  "  Dick." 

"  Well  ?  "  came  from  the  black  corner  where 
the  bed  stood ;  it  was  Strangwayes'  assertion 
that  he  always  slept  with  one  eye  and  one  ear 
alert. 

Hugh  stepped  over  to  the  bedside.  "  I  have 
met  with  Philip  Bellasis,"  he  began  quickly,  as 
if  he  had  a  lesson  he  knew  must  be  repeated. 
"  He  slandered  my  father.  I  gave  him  the  lie. 
We  are  to  fight  with  rapiers  to-morrow  at  twi- 
light in  the  fields  toward  Osney  Abbey." 

Strangwayes  was  sitting  upright  in  bed  now. 
"  You  are  to  fight  Bellasis  ?  "  he  repeated. 

Hugh  nodded.  "  Have  you  the  time  to  come 
out  to  the  field  with  me,  Dick  ?  George  offered, 
but  I'd  rather  —  " 

"  Did  George  Allestree  suffer  you  enter  on 
such  a  quarrel  ?  "  There  was  a  sharp,  ringing 
quality  in  Strangwayes'  voice  Hugh  had  seldom 
heard. 

208 


CH.  xra  IN  THE  FIELDS  TOWARD  OSNEY  ABBEY     209 

"  Nay,  'tis  no  fault  of  George,"  he  answered 
quickly,  and  detailed  all  that  had  befallen  at  the 
ordinary. 

Strangwayes  dropped  back  on  his  elbow. 
"  Hugh,  you  fool,  you  babe ! "  he  broke  out, 
still  with  that  odd  quality  in  his  voice.  "  That 
scoundrel  trapped  you  deliberately ;  he  durst  not 
meet  your  father  again ;  he  tried  to  trap  you,  and 
you  suffered  him !  " 

"  I  could  do  nothing  else,"  Hugh  answered. 

"  Well,  get  to  bed  now,"  Strangwayes  said  in 
his  kindest  tone.  "  You  must  have  all  the  rest 
you  can  before  you  go  to  spit  our  friend 
Philip." 

Lying  down  obediently,  Hugh  stared  at  the 
moonlight  creeping  along  the  floor,  and  listened 
to  the  watch  that  paced  the  street  below.  Strang- 
wayes at  his  side  breathed  uneasily  and  once  or 
twice  turned  somewhat;  but  Hugh  lay  quiet  till 
his  opened  eyes  ached  and  were  heavy,  and  he 
slept  a  sleep  full  of  dreams. 

When  he  came  broad  awake  again  there  was 
chilly  daylight  in  the  room,  and  Strangwayes  was 
up  and  half  dressed.  "  What  sort  of  day  is  it  ?  " 
Hugh  asked. 

"  A  gray  day,"  Dick  answered  cheerily.  "  Tis 
good  for  your  work.  There'll  be  no  sun  to  dazzle 
either  of  you." 

Hugh  got  up,  and  in  the  midst  of  drawing  on 
his  clothes  glanced  at  Dick's  watch,  where  he  saw 
it  was  past  their  rising  hour.  "  Is  this  the  way 
you  pamper  a  fighter,  as  if  I  were  one  of  Butler's 
gamecocks  ?  "  he  asked. 

"You   were   sleeping   well,"   Strangwayes  an- 


2io  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

swered ;  "  'twere  pity  to  wake  you.  I'll  fetch  some 
breakfast  and  we'll  eat  together  here." 

"  You  can  get  food  from  the  shop  below  ;  you've 
no  need  of  your  hat  and  cloak.  Where  are  you 
going,  Dick  ? " 

Strangwayes  hesitated  an  instant  while  he 
drew  his  cloak  about  him,  then  replied,  "  I  am 
going  to  your  father." 

"  You  shall  not !  "  Hugh  cried,  and,  crossing  to 
the  door,  set  his  back  against  it. 

"  Assuredly  I  shall,"  Strangwayes  answered. 
"  The  matter  has  gone  beyond  jest." 

"  He  will  call  me  a  snivelling  coward,"  Hugh 
pleaded ;  "  he  will  say  I  made  a  mash  of  it  and 
then  came  whimpering  to  him." 

"  Let  him,"  Strangwayes  interrupted,  "  'tis  his 
quarrel  and  he  should  manage  it  himself.  Why 
did  you  ever  thrust  in  ?  " 

"  I  know  not,"  Hugh  answered.  "  Only  he  is  my 
father.  And  he  is  no  coward.  They  lied  about 
him  in  that.  And  he  was  not  there  to  reply.  I 
had  to  come  in." 

"  Well,  he  can  come  in  now,"  Strangwayes  re- 
torted, and  strode  over  to  the  door. 

Hugh  thrust  up  one  arm  against  his  friend's 
chest.  "  You  will  not  tell  him  ?  "  he  begged.  "  I 
know  you  can  put  me  aside,  Dick ;  you're  the 
stronger.  But  prithee,  do  not  use  me  thus.  He 
despises  me  so  already.  I'd  liefer  Bellasis  killed 
me  twice  over.  You  won't  speak  a  word  to  him, 
Dick  ? " 

"  No,  I  won't  speak  to  him,  Hugh,"  Strang- 
wayes answered  soothingly.  "  Come,  come,  you're 
foolish  as  a  girl.  Go  get  on  your  coat,  and  be 


xin      IN  THE  FIELDS  TOWARD  OSNEY  ABBEY      211 

ready  to  eat  a  full  breakfast."  He  put  Hugh 
aside  with  one  arm  about  his  shoulders,  and  went 
out  of  the  room. 

When  Hugh  had  finished  dressing  he  opened 
the  casement  and  leaned  out  a  little  into  the  raw 
morning  air ;  the  chilly  wind  seemed  to  brush 
away  something  of  the  heaviness  of  his  unrefresh- 
ing  sleep.  Down  in  the  street  below  he  saw  men 
passing  by,  and  a  townswoman  in  a  scarlet  hood 
that  showed  bright  against  the  muddy  road  and 
dark  houses.  Across  the  way  he  saw  Major 
Bludsworth  come  leisurely  down  the  steps  from 
Sir  William's  quarters,  and  presently  he  saw  a 
trooper,  lumbering  briskly  up  the  stairs,  disappear 
inside  the  house. 

Just  then  a  kick  upon  the  door  made  him  turn 
in  time  to  see  Strangwayes,  keeping  the  door 
braced  open  with  one  foot,  come  sidewise  through 
the  narrow  aperture.  In  one  hand  he  held  two 
mugs  of  ale  and  in  the  other  a  pasty,  which  Hugh 
had  the  wit  to  catch  before  it  fell  to  the  floor. 
"  Ay,  treat  it  reverently,"  Dick  said,  "  'tis  mutton, 
and  age  has  ever  commanded  reverence.  Part  of 
the  ale  has  gone  up  my  sleeve,  but  the  rest  is 
warranted  of  a  good  heaviness." 

After  he  had  thrown  off  his  cloak  the  two  set 
them  down  at  the  table  with  the  pasty  and  the 
ale  between  them,  and  drew  out  their  knives. 
Strangwayes  scored  a  line  across  the  middle  of 
the  mutton  pie.  "  Now  each  man  falls  to,"  he 
ordered,  "  and  he  who  works  the  greatest  havoc 
on  his  side  gets  the  mug  that  is  full,  while  the 
other  must  content  him  with  the  scant  measure. 
Now,  then,  charge  for  England  and  St.  George ! " 


212  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

They  were  well  at  work,  Hugh  eating  dutifully 
and  Dick  both  eating  and  setting  forth  an  inter- 
minable tale  of  a  fat  citizen's  wife  he  had  accosted 
in  the  bakeshop,  when  there  sounded  a  quick 
stamping  on  the  stairs.  "  I'll  wager  'tis  the  pop- 
injay," said  Strangwayes,  pausing  with  his  knife 
suspended. 

Right  on  the  word  Frank  Pleydall  burst  into 
the  room.  "  Is  it  true  you're  to  fight  ?  "  he  cried. 

"  A  guess  near  the  truth,"  answered  Strang- 
wayes. "  Draw  up  and  share  with  us." 

"  I've  eaten  breakfast.  They  were  talking  of 
the  duel  there  at  the  table.  So  you're  to  fight 
Bellasis,  Hugh?  Aren't  you  afraid?  " 

The  full  mug  of  ale  suddenly  went  crashing 
and  slopping  to  the  floor.  "  If  I  were  the  Creator 
and  had  men  to  make,"  said  Strangwayes,  down 
on  his  knees  among  the  fragments,  "  I'd  make 
men  without  elbows,  at  least  without  such  elbows 
as  mine.  Come  aid  me,  you  lazy  fellow." 

Hugh  obediently  began  mopping  up  the  spilt 
ale,  but  Strangwayes  did  not  stay  to  help  him. 
He  was  speaking  with  Frank  over  by  the  window, 
and  Hugh  just  caught  something  like,  "  If  you 
don't  hold  your  foolish  tongue,  I'll  cuff  your  head 
off." 

In  any  case,  when  Hugh  rose  to  his  feet  he 
found  Frank  very  subdued.  "  'Twas  my  father 
sent  me  hither,"  he  began,  with  a  little  trace  of 
sullenness.  "  He  said  if  you  really  had  it  in  mind 
to  fight,  you  were  best  slip  out  of  the  town  early. 
The  matter  has  got  abroad,  and  the  provost  may 
send  to  apprehend  you  just  for  accepting  the 
challenge." 


xra      IN  THE  FIELDS  TOWARD  OSNEY  ABBEY      213 

"  Then  we'll  disappoint  the  provost,"  said 
Strangwayes.  "  I've  sent  to  the  stable  already  to 
have  our  horses  brought  round.  Clap  into  your 
boots,  Hugh,  but  bring  your  shoes  along.  You 
can't  fight  with  a  ton  of  leather  about  your  heels." 

"  Is  there  aught  I  can  lend  you,  Hugh?"  asked 
Frank,  studying  his  friend  with  interested  eyes. 

"  I'm  well  enough,"  Hugh  answered  cheerfully. 
"  Dick  is  going  to  let  me  use  his  rapier." 

"  Can't  I  come  out  to  the  field  with  you  ? " 
Frank  begged.  "  Oh,  I'll  not  speak  a  word,  Dick, 
and  I'll  do  whatever  you  may  tell  me." 

"  If  a  second  man  came  it  would  have  to  be 
Allestree,"  answered  Strangwayes.  "  Better  go 
back  to  quarters  now,  Frank.  Tell  Sir  William 
we  thank  him  for  his  warning,  and  I  have  taken  a 
day's  leave  of  absence." 

But  as  Strangwayes  was  edging  him  toward 
the  door  Frank  dodged  by  him  and  ran  back  to 
Hugh.  "  Good  luck  to  you,"  he  said,  putting  his 
arms  round  Hugh  and  kissing  him.  "And — and 
God  keep  you." 

Then  he  clattered  out  and  down  the  stairs,  and 
Hugh,  for  a  moment,  neither  looked  at  Dick  nor 
spoke. 

He  was  drawing  on  his  cloak,  still  with  his  back 
toward  Strangwayes,  who  stood  by  the  window, 
when  his  friend  struck  in  gayly:  "  In  good  time, 
here  are  the  horses.  Come  along,  now."  Thus 
Hugh  was  hurried  out  at  the  door,  with  time  only 
for  a  single  backward  glance  at  the  little  crowded 
chamber,  and  barely  an  instant  in  which  to  ask 
himself,  would  he  ever  look  upon  that  room 
again  ? 


214  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

At  the  foot  of  the  first  flight  of  stairs  they  met 
Turner,  recognizable  by  his  slim  figure,  though 
the  corridor  was  too  dark  for  them  to  distinguish 
his  face.  "  Going  out  to  the  field,  eh,  Gwyeth  ?  " 
he  asked,  thrusting  out  his  hand.  "  Well,  success 
to  you,  lad,  good  success."  He  shook  hands  a 
second  time  with  a  strong  pressure  that  lingered 
on  Hugh's  fingers  till  after  they  were  mounted 
and  off. 

Under  foot  the  mud  and  slush  were  heavy,  but 
the  horses  kept  up  a  tolerable  pace,  which  Hugh, 
unknown  to  himself,  was  setting  for  them.  A 
feverish  desire  to  be  moving  quickly  was  upon  him, 
and  with  it  a  dread  of  being  silent.  He  laughed 
and  chatted  indifferently  of  whatever  caught  his 
eye  upon  the  western  road  till  he  soon  had  Strang- 
wayes  talking  back  glibly.  "  We'll  dine  at  an  ale- 
house called  the  '  Sceptre,' "  Dick  rattled  on. 
"  I  know  it  well  of  old.  I  used  to  have  a  score  as 
long  as  my  arm  chalked  on  the  door.  There's  a 
very  pretty  bowling  green  behind  the  house. 
Which  explains  my  long  score.  When  the  spring 
comes  I  must  have  you  out  thither  and  teach  you 
to  bowl.  'Tis  good  for  the  muscles  of  the  arm,  let 
alone  the  exhilaration  of  the  spirits." 

It  was  mid-morning  when  they  drew  rein  before 
the  much  belauded  alehouse,  a  low  gray  building, 
in  a  field  somewhat  apart  from  the  surrounding 
cottages,  with  tall  poplars  in  a  row  on  either  side 
that  made  it  seem  the  more  remote.  The  short- 
breathed  host  and  his  staid,  gray-headed  drawer 
had  had  acquaintance  with  Strangwayes  as  late 
as  that  winter,  to  judge  by  the  warmth  of  their 
greeting.  They  had  the  horses  to  the  stable  at 


xin      IN  THE  FIELDS  TOWARD  OSNEY  ABBEY      215 

once,  and  the  gentlemen  to  the  big  front  chamber 
of  the  upper  story,  where  a  good  fire  was  started, 
a  cloth  laid,  and  all  made  comfortable.  "  We'll 
not  dine  till  one  o'clock,"  Strangwayes  ordered. 
"  If  you  hear  scuffling  before  then  be  not  dis- 
mayed; we  may  try  some  sword  practice.  You 
understand,  eh,  Martin  ?  " 

The  sober  drawer  showed  sparks  of  interest. 
"  Be  you  to  fight,  Master  Strangwayes  ? "  he 
asked. 

"  This  gentleman  is,  this  afternoon.  Now  keep 
a  quiet  tongue,  Martin,  as  you  always  do."  He 
slipped  a  piece  of  money  into  the  drawer's  hand, 
and  the  man  departed  slowly,  with  his  gaze  on 
Hugh. 

"  Now  make  yourself  at  ease,"  Strangwayes 
bade.  "  Or  will  you  try  a  little  rapier  practice  to 
limber  your  muscles  ?  " 

Hugh  was  ready  enough,  so  Strangwayes  pro- 
cured from  the  host  a  pair  of  blunted  rapiers  with 
which  they  fell  to  fencing.  Hugh  watched  Dick's 
sword-hand  and  did  his  best,  but  again  and  again 
the  point  slipped  past  his  blade ;  there  seemed  no 
suppleness  in  his  wrist  nor  spring  in  his  body,  and 
when  he  tried  desperately  to  retort  faster  he  laid 
himself  open  to  his  adversary.  In  the  end,  as  he 
attempted  a  vigorous  thrust  in  quarte,  his  foot 
slipped  so  he  only  saved  himself  by  catching  at 
the  table.  As  he  recovered  himself  he  looked  at 
Dick,  and  saw  his  face  was  of  an  appalling 
soberness.  "  You've  a  steady  enough  hand,  Hugh," 
he  began  hastily.  "  Only  you  must  quicken  your 
thrusts  somewhat.  No,  don't  try  any  more ;  you'll 
only  spend  yourself  needlessly." 


2i6  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

Hugh  handed  back  his  weapon,  and  made  a 
great  work  of  putting  on  his  coat  again.  But 
presently  it  would  out.  "  My  father  is  con- 
siderable of  a  swordsman,  is  he  not  ? "  he 
began. 

"  He  has  that  reputation,"  Strangwayes  an- 
swered dryly. 

"  Yet  he  did  not  contrive  more  than  to  wound 
Bellasis." 

"  I  doubt  if  he  put  his  whole  skill  into  the  busi- 
ness," Strangwayes  said  quickly.  "  Come,  Hugh, 
try  a  hand  at  primero  with  me,  —  unless  you  fear 
I  worst  you  there." 

He  drew  the  cards  from  his  pocket,  and  they 
sat  down  to  the  table  by  the  fire.  How  many 
games  they  played  Hugh  did  not  heed;  he  dealt 
recklessly  and  talked  and  laughed  his  loudest; 
sometimes  he  won  of  Strangwayes,  sometimes  he 
lost,  but  it  all  mattered  nothing.  He  was  in  the 
thick  of  a  boisterous  exposition  of  the  merits  of 
the  hand  he  held,  when  some  one  knocked  at  the 
door.  "  Come !  "  Strangwayes  cried  eagerly,  and 
sprang  to  his  feet. 

The  door  was  pushed  open,  and  Ridydale, 
spattered  to  the  thighs,  walked  in.  "  A  letter 
for  you,  sir,  from  Colonel  Gwyeth,"  he  said,  cross- 
ing to  Hugh.  "  The  colonel  lay  from  his  quar- 
ters yesternight,  and  came  not  back  till  late  this 
morning." 

This  last  was  spoken  more  to  Strangwayes 
than  to  Hugh,  but  the  boy  did  not  heed.  He 
was  tearing  open  the  letter  with  fingers  that 
shook  with  impatience.  It  was  very  brief,  he 
saw  at  first  glance ;  then  he  read :  — 


xra      IN  THE  FIELDS  TOWARD  OSNEY  ABBEY      217 

WORTHY  SIR  : 

For  something  like  forty  years  I  have  contrived  unaided  to 
keep  my  honor  and  my  reputation  clear.  By  the  grace  of 
Heaven  I  hope  to  do  so  for  forty  years  longer,  still  without  a 
boy's  assistance.  Quit  at  once  this  absurd  quarrel  you  have 
entered  on.  Take  yourself  back  to  your  quarters.  I  shall  my- 
self deal  with  Master  Bellasis. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

ALAN  GWYETH. 

Hugh  read  the  paper  over  once  more,  slowly, 
then  passed  it  to  Dick.  "  That  is  what  he  writes 
me,"  he  said  without  passion,  and  getting  up  went 
to  fetch  a  standish  and  paper  from  an  open  cup- 
board in  one  corner  of  the  room. 

He  placed  them  on  the  table  as  Strangwayes 
looked  up  from  finishing  the  letter.  He,  too,  said 
nothing,  but  his  mouth  was  set  in  a  hard  line 
under  his  mustache.  "  I'll  write  an  answer," 
Hugh  said  quietly,  as  he  seated  himself. 

"  Will  you  not  ride  back  to  the  city  with  me, 
sir  ?  "  Ridydale  put  in  eagerly. 

Hugh  was  silent  a  moment  while  he  adjusted 
his  paper  and  pen,  then  replied :  "  I  am  not  com- 
ing to  the  city  with  you.  Moreover,  Corporal 
Ridydale,  if  you  ever  again  mention  unto  me  one 
word  of  Captain  Gwyeth,  I'll  have  no  more  deal- 
ings with  you." 

Then  he  turned  resolutely  to  his  task  and 
wrote  his  answer,  slowly,  for  he  was  an  unhandy 
penman,  and  he  wished  the  letter  to  be  quite 
dignified  in  neatness. 

WORTHY  SIR  : 

When  we  parted  at  Shrewsbury  perhaps  you  may  remember 
I  said  to  you  that  you  had  no  right  to  lay  a  command  upon 
me.  Since  that  time  you  have  done  naught  to  get  you  the 


2i8  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

right ;  by  your  will  I  am  no  son  of  yours.  Yet  so  long  as  I 
bear  the  name  of  Gwyeth  it  is  my  part  to  defend  that  name 
from  any  slander.  Therefore  I  did  enter  on  a  quarrel  with 
the  one  who  defamed  my  family.  The  quarrel  is  now  mine 
and  I  shall  pursue  it  to  the  end.  Though  I  have  been  flogged 
by  your  troopers,  I  have  some  notion  of  what  becomes  a  gen- 
tleman of  honor.  Such  a  gentleman  as  my  mother  would  wish 
me  to  be  does  not  suffer  another  to  undertake  his  defence. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

HUGH  GWYETH. 

He  chose  his  words  deliberately ;  it  was  amaz- 
ing how  ready  they  were  to  his  hand,  now  that  he 
had  come  to  the  realization  that  Alan  Gwyeth 
had  used  him  with  brutal  unjustness. 

He  folded  the  paper  carefully.  "  Here,  take 
it,  Ridydale,"  he  ordered.  "  But  remember,  I've 
no  quarrel  with  you,  Corporal.  You  have  been  a 
good  friend  to  me,  and  I'd  still  keep  you  so. 
Only  never  another  mention  of  Captain  Gwyeth." 

Ridydale  hesitated  a  moment  with  the  letter  in 
his  hand  before  he  broke  out :  "  Tell  you  what, 
Master  Hugh,  I'll  send  this  by  another  mes- 
senger. I'm  going  to  rest  here  till  the  fight's 
over.  You  may  want  me." 

"  That's  well,"  Strangwayes  said  promptly. 

After  Ridydale  had  left  them,  Dick  ordered  up 
dinner,  and  they  tried  to  talk  over  it  as  before. 
Strangwayes  made  out  fairly,  but  a  numb  silence 
was  on  Hugh ;  in  the  bracing  anger  of  a  few 
moments  before  his  resolution  seemed  all  to  have 
vanished  and  left  him  spiritless.  He  could  not 
help  looking  to  the  window  to  see  what  time 
of  day  it  was,  and  involuntarily  he  interrupted 
Strangwayes  with  a  question  as  to  how  soon  they 
should  start  for  the  field.  "  Not  for  a  couple  of 


xra      IN  THE  FIELDS  TOWARD   OSNEY  ABBEY      219 

hours,"  the  other  replied.  "'Tis  a  bit  of  a  walk; 
we'll  take  supper  here  afterward  —  " 

With  a  sudden  gesture  Hugh  pushed  by  his 
plate  and  swung  about  with  his  head  hidden 
against  the  back  of  his  chair.  For  of  a  sudden 
there  came  sweeping  upon  him  overpoweringly 
the  realization  he  had  been  battling  off  all  the 
morning:  this  was  the  last  meal  he  might  ever 
eat. 

He  got  to  his  feet  unsteadily  and  walked  to  the 
door ;  the  scrape  of  a  chair  told  him  Strangwayes 
had  risen.  "  Don't ! "  Hugh  cried.  "  I  want  to 
be  alone." 

Somehow  he  felt  his  way  down  a  flight  of 
backstairs,  and  pushing  open  a  side  door  stum- 
bled out  into  the  air.  There  was  a  level  stretch 
of  pashy  bowling  green  down  which  he  splashed 
his  way.  But  press  forward  as  he  would,  he 
knew  he  could  not  run  from  what  he  had  bound 
himself  to,  so,  where  the  green  ended  at  the  hedge, 
he  flung  himself  down  on  a  wet  bench  and  sat 
with  his  head  in  his  hands.  In  one  of  the  bare 
poplars  a  snow  bird  was  chirruping ;  over  toward 
the  stable  he  could  hear  a  man  calling  and  a 
horse  stamp.  He  dropped  his  head  on  his  knees 
and  stared  dumbly  at  the  trodden  mud  between 
his  feet.  For  he  knew  now  there  was  nothing  to 
help  him,  even  Dick's  friendship  and  affection 
were  of  no  avail ;  there  was  only  himself  to  rely 
on.  Once  he  thought  of  God,  but  the  God  the 
Oldesworths  had  taught  him  was  distant  and 
very  stern ;  He  would  never  take  pity  on  a  duel- 
list, even  if  he  cried  to  Him.  So  Hugh,  with  his 
head  bowed  down,  wrestled  through  the  struggle 


220  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

alone,  and  little  by  little  forced  himself  to  accept 
with  a  soldier's  resignation  the  fate  that  should 
take  from  him  the  joy  of  battle,  and  of  friendship, 
and  of  life  that  summed  up  all  joys. 

When  he  rose  his  face  was  quite  steady,  though 
he  made  no  pretence  to  the  cheerfulness  he  had 
kept  up  that  morning.  Walking  briskly  back  to 
the  house,  he  made  his  way  to  their  chamber, 
where  he  found  Strangwayes  pacing  up  and 
down.  Hugh  went  to  him  and  put  a  hand  on 
his  shoulder.  "  Let's  not  try  to  pretend  about 
it  any  more,  Dick,"  he  said  simply.  "  Bellasis  has 
handled  a  rapier  for  years  where  I've  used  it  but 
weeks.  There  is  no  hope  for  me.  Frankly,  is 
there  ?  On  your  honor,  Dick." 

"  There  is  this  hope,"  Strangwayes  answered, 
after  an  instant.  "  It  may  be  he  will  content 
himself  with  disabling  you,  and  then  —  he  will 
force  you  to  crave  his  pardon." 

"  The  other  way  suits  me  better,"  Hugh  said 
quietly. 

"  You  can  only  do  your  best,"  Strangwayes  re- 
plied. "  He  may  be  careless.  Be  ready  to  use 
every  opportunity." 

"  I  will,"  Hugh  nodded,  and  then,  sitting  down 
by  the  fire,  he  beckoned  his  friend  to  sit  beside 
him.  "  I  take  it,  time's  short,"  he  began,  "  so  I 
want  to  tell  you,  Dick,  you're  to  take  Bayard  and 
keep  him,  and  be  very  kind  to  him,  only  I  know 
you'll  be  that." 

Strangwayes  reached  out  his  arm;  the  two 
griped  hands,  and  sat  so. 

"  Give  my  sword  to  Frank,"  Hugh  went  on, 
"  and  give  Ned  Griffith  back  his  red  sash.  Ridy- 


xm      IN  THE  FIELDS  TOWARD  OSNEY  ABBEY      221 

dale  can  have  my  spurs.  Then  there's  six  shill- 
ings I've  here;  I  want  a  trooper  named  Robert 
Saxon  in  Gwyeth's  company  to  have  them ;  he'll 
be  sorry  and  drunk  at  once.  Give  my  duty  to 
Captain  Turner  and  Sir  William,  and  commend 
me  to  George  Allestree."  He  paused  a  moment, 
then  resumed :  "  There's  a  girl  at  Everscombe 
Manor,  Lois  Campion ;  we  were  playfellows  then. 
She  has  not  writ  me  since,  but  I'd  like  her  to 
know  that  I  held  her  in  remembrance.  I'd  fain 
send  my  duty  to  my  Grandfather  Oldesworth,  too, 
but  I  doubt  if  he'd  accept  of  it." 

"  I'll  do  all  as  you  bid,"  Strangwayes  answered. 
"  God  !  if  I  could  but  fight  that  coward  for  you." 

After  that  outburst  they  sat  side  by  side  with- 
out speaking,  while  the  quick  moments  slipped 
by,  till  at  last  Strangwayes  rose  unwillingly  to  his 
feet.  "  We  must  start  now,"  he  said,  so  Hugh 
put  on  his  cloak,  and  arm  in  arm  they  went  out 
from  the  house. 

At  the  door  Ridydale  saluted  them,  then  fell 
into  step  behind  them,  and  in  such  order  they 
splashed  down  the  bowling  green.  Through  a 
gap  in  the  hedge  they  entered  a  field  where  some 
patches  of  snow  still  lingered  in  the  hollows. 
Beyond  they  passed  through  a  copse  of  naked 
trees,  and  so  across  a  dry  ditch  entered  a  level 
piece  of  open  ground.  At  the  farther  end  two 
men  stood  waiting.  "  Faith,  I  had  judged  you 
meant  to  shirk  your  hour,"  cried  the  taller  of  the 
two  in  a  sharp,  high  voice. 

"  Close  of  twilight  is  a  rather  loose  appoint- 
ment, Master  Bellasis,"  Strangwayes  answered 
curtly. 


222  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

"  And  you  fetched  a  third  man,  did  you  ?  Two 
to  one  —  " 

"  Maybe  you  would  wish  the  city  guard  to  come 
upon  you  with  blades  in  your  hands  ?  "  Strang- 
wayes  interrupted.  "  I  have  brought  a  sure  man 
to  watch  the  road.  But  if  you  object  —  " 

"Oh,  by  no  means,"  laughed  Bellasis.  "And 
'tis  well  you  brought  him.  'Twill  need  two  of 
you  to  convey  your  gentleman  from  the  field." 

"In  any  case  I  shall  have  legs  left  to  walk  back 
to  the  field  and  find  you,"  Strangwayes  retorted, 
with  his  nostrils  drawn  thin.  "  Strip  off  your 
coat,  Hugh.  Take  your  place  beyond  the  bushes 
there,  Ridydale." 

Hugh  was  glad  that  Dick  unfastened  his  coat 
for  him;  for  a  sick  instant  the  control  he  had 
acquired  of  himself  seemed  slipping  away.  But 
it  was  only  an  instant,  and  then,  grasping  his 
rapier  firmly,  he  had  stood  up  stiffly  in  the  place 
they  bade  him  stand.  In  the  distance,  against 
the  darkening  twilight,  he  could  see  the  bare 
trees  and  the  towers  of  Osney  Abbey;  then  his 
eyes  descended  to  Bellasis'  keen  sallow  face,  and 
then  they  dropped  to  the  man's  bony  sword-hand, 
and  he  saw  nothing  else. 

Some  one  said, "  Now ! "  and  the  rapiers  crossed, 
how,  he  scarcely  knew.  He  heard  the  quick  click 
of  the  blades,  and  with  it  came  a  sudden  flash  of 
pain  in  his  right  thigh ;  he  thrust  desperately  at 
Bellasis'  shoulder,  but  his  point  went  wide. 

"  That  shall  quit  the  blow  you  struck  me,"  his 
adversary  spoke  softly,  as  the  blades  clicked  again. 

Hugh  shifted  his  body,  stiffly,  for  his  right  leg 
felt  strangely  numb,  yet  with  his  utmost  skill  he 


xra      IN  THE  FIELDS  TOWARD  OSNEY  ABBEY      223 

contrived  to  put  by  two  thrusts ;  all  his  attention 
was  riveted  to  the  blades,  but  some  inner  con- 
sciousness was  telling  him  that  Bellasis  was  only 
feinting  carelessly,  and  had  not  yet  shown  his 
strength.  His  very  despair  drove  him  forward  in 
a  useless  thrust,  and  at  that  the  other's  rapier 
seemed  in  his  eyes,  and  he  felt  something  warm 
on  his  left  cheek. 

"  And  there's  for  your  father's  blow,"  said 
Bellasis,  in  a  low  voice.  "  Get  your  breath  now 
for  the  last  bout" 

There  was  thrust  and  parry  for  what  seemed 
endless  hours ;  click  of  blade,  desperate  effort 
that  set  Hugh,  mad  with  his  helplessness,  pant- 
ing to  the  point  of  sobbing.  Then,  of  a  sudden, 
as  he  made  an  instinctive  swerve  to  the  right, 
there  came  a  rasping  sound  of  tearing  cloth,  a 
deathly  agony  swept  through  his  body.  But  he 
saw  Bellasis  leaning  toward  him  with  body  all 
exposed,  and,  springing  forward,  with  all  the 
strength  in  him  he  thrust  home  the  rapier. 

The  hilt  of  the  rapier  slipped  from  his  hand. 
Bellasis'  shirt  and  face  showed  white  on  the 
muddy  ground  at  his  feet.  All  the  rest  was 
blackness  and  pain.  A  second  thrill  pierced 
through  his  side.  Some  one's  arm  was  about  him, 
and  Dick's  voice  cried,  "  Hugh,  Hugh  ! "  with  an 
agony  in  it  he  marvelled  at.  He  could  feel 
Strangwayes'  fingers  tearing  open  his  shirt,  a 
cloth  pressing  in  upon  his  side.  "  Ha'  done !  "  he 
gasped  out,  clutching  Dick  round  the  neck. 

Right  upon  that,  somewhere  very  far  distant, 
he  heard  Ridydale's  voice :  "  Off  with  you  !  The 
guard's  upon  us ! " 


CHAPTER   XIV 

UNDER   THE    KING'S    DISPLEASURE 

A  RACKING  agony  of  being  borne  joltingly 
along  Hugh  remembered  dimly,  but  now  there 
came  a  moment  of  fuller  consciousness.  He 
knew  it  was  black  all  about  where  he  lay,  the 
ground  beneath  him  felt  wet,  and  his  face  was 
jammed  into  something  so  cold  it  made  his  cheek 
ache.  With  a  helpless  catching  of  the  breath  he 
tried  to  shift  his  position.  "  Hush,  hush  !  "  Strang- 
wayes'  voice  sounded  right  at  his  ear,  and  Strang- 
wayes'  arm  pressed  him  close. 

Smothering  the  cry  of  pain,  Hugh  listened 
breathlessly;  somewhere  far  above  him  people 
must  be  moving,  for  he  heard  the  snap  of  boughs 
and  men's  voices  calling,  "  Have  you  found  a 
trace  ?  " 

"  Nay,  they  bore  to  the  roadway,  I'll  wager." 

"  Have  ye  searched  the  ditch  ? " 

On  that,  nearer  and  louder  than  before,  came 
more  trampling  and  crashing.  Hugh  could  not 
hear  Strangwayes  breathe,  but  he  felt  Strangwayes' 
arm  draw  more  tensely  about  him,  and,  when  he 
turned  his  head  painfully,  knew  it  was  Strang- 
wayes' hand  pressed  down  on  his  mouth.  Now 
as  he  lay  he  could  see  a  shred  of  dark  sky  with 
the  outline  of  branches  thick  woven  against  it. 

224 


CH.  xiv      UNDER  THE   KING'S  DISPLEASURE         225 

Then  the  sight  of  the  sky  went  blurring  out  from 
before  his  eyes,  and  the  crackling  of  the  bushes 
grew  fainter  till  that  and  all  other  sound  ceased 
for  him. 

A  sense  that  he  had  been  long  in  a  region  of 
blankness,  then  once  more  he  heard  voices,  but 
now  they  were  beside  him  and  he  knew  who 
spoke.  "  Durst  you  venture  forth,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  dare  not  risk  it,  Corporal.  Yet  if  we  stay 
in  this  slough  —  You're  holding  him  as  clear  of 
the  wet  as  you  can  ? " 

"  What  else  should  I  be  doing,  sir  ?  "  Ridydale's 
voice  came  snappishly. 

"  You  are  here,  Dick  ? "  Hugh  tried  to  say,  but 
it  took  an  instant  to  force  out  even  a  weak 
whisper. 

A  quick  movement  and  Strangwayes  bent  over 
him ;  Hugh  concluded  vaguely  that  he  was  rest- 
ing across  the  knees  of  his  two  friends  with  his 
head  upon  Dick's  arm.  "  How  is  it  with  you 
now,  lad  ?  "  Strangwayes  asked  eagerly. 

"  Well  enough.  Only  my  face  aches,"  Hugh 
admitted  in  a  whisper  that  pained  him. 

"  I  could  have  forgiven  him,  had  he  killed  the 
lad  clean  and  quick,"  Strangwayes  broke  out; 
"  but  to  hack  him  into  pieces  thus !  " 

"Hell  gnaw  him  for  it!"  Ridydale  growled 
back. 

With  neither  wit  nor  strength  to  reason  out  of 
what  or  whom  they  spoke,  Hugh  lay  quiet  and 
unresisting  in  the  arms  of  his  companions.  He 
won'dered  if  their  coats  were  wrapped  about  him, 
he  felt  so  warm.  Then,  after  a  space  where  even 
wonder  was  blotted  out,  he  felt  his  shirt  thrust 


226  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

open  again  and  the  air  cold  on  his  breast.  "  Give 
me  those  other  napkins,"  Strangwayes'  voice 
sounded  hard  and  colorless ;  "  he  is  bleeding 
again." 

Something  like  a  groan  burst  from  Ridydale. 
"  May  we  not  venture  it  now,  sir  ?  "  he  begged. 

"  In  God's  name,  yes  !  "  Strangwayes  cried. 
.  Hugh  felt  himself  lifted  up,  and  with  the  move- 
ment came  a  throbbing  pain  through  all  his  body, 
and  then  a  deathly  faintness,  that  left  him 
no  strength  to  cry  out.  Through  it  all  he 
caught  a  glimpse  of  a  blackness  above  him  that 
must  be  the  night  sky,  and  then  it  was  all  a  black- 
ness, where  he  could  not  even  feel  Dick's  touch. 

For  one  instant  of  agony  the  light  returned  to 
him.  It  seemed  they  must  have  torn  open  all 
his  wounds,  and  they  would  not  spare  him,  even 
when  at  last  he  cried  for  mercy.  Strangwayes' 
face  came  out  of  the  blur  of  light,  and  Strang- 
wayes griped  hold  of  his  hand,  but  gave  him  no 
other  comfort.  Then  the  light  went  out,  and  for 
a  space  Hugh  had  only  ugly  dreams. 

It  was  of  a  morning  that  he  opened  his  eyes 
again  upon  a  sane  and  remembered  world. 
Somewhere  near  crackled  a  fire,  the  light  of 
which  dazzled  him  so  he  blinked  and  closed  his 
eyes  once  more.  Gradually  he  became  aware 
that  he  was  warm,  and  lay  on  something  soft. 
He  felt  no  pain  at  all  now,  and  he  could  not  un- 
derstand why  they  had  so  fettered  his  body  with 
bandages.  Presently  he  summoned  energy  to 
open  his  eyes  a  second  time,  and,  with  long  in- 
tervals of  dozing,  lay  staring  about  him :  a  small, 
bare  room  he  did  not  recollect  to  have  seen  be- 


xiv  UNDER  THE   KING'S  DISPLEASURE          227 

fore ;  one  high,  narrow  window,  with  a  naked 
branch  that  seemed  to  cleave  it  from  corner  to 
corner;  a  dancing  fire  that  for  a  long  time  fas- 
cinated him.  After  that  he  studied  the  blue  cov- 
erlet that  was  flung  over  him,  and  then,  dragging 
out  one  arm,  rested  it  upon  the  coverlet,  and  mar- 
velled that  his  wrist  was  grown  so  slender. 

Then  from  somewhere  Strangwayes  came  and 
stood  over  him,  just  the  same  as  he  had  ever 
been,  only  now  the  lower  part  of  his  face  was 
black  with  a  half-grown  beard.  "  Do  you  know 
me,  Hugh?"  he  asked,  and  for  once  there  was 
no  laughter  in  his  eyes. 

"  Why,  of  course  I  know  you,"  Hugh  replied, 
vexed  at  the  folly  of  such  a  question. 

Drawing  up  a  stool,  Strangwayes  sat  down 
beside  him,  but  Hugh  hardly  noted  him  for  still 
gazing  at  that  limp  arm  that  did  not  seem  to  be- 
long to  him.  But  presently  he  found  that  he  could 
move  it,  if  he  took  his  time,  so  with  infinite  pains 
he  dragged  his  hand  up  to  his  face,  and  felt  a 
great  welt  of  plaster  upon  one  cheek.  "  What's 
to  do  ? "  he  asked  faintly. 

"  A  beauty  mark  you  may  keep  with  you," 
Strangwayes  said,  with  an  effort  at  his  old  gay 
tone,  though  his  eyes  were  blinking  fast. 

Hugh  rested  a  time,  then,  with  much  patience, 
lifted  his  hand  to  his  head,  and  gave  a  gasp  of 
consternation  as  he  drew  his  uncertain  fingers 
across  a  stiff,  prickly  surface.  "  What  have  you 
done  to  me  now  ? "  he  cried. 

"  Clipped  you  close.  Do  you  think  a  fellow 
that  gets  him  a  fever  can  be  let  play  Cavalier  ? " 

"  You  cut  my  hair  ? "  Hugh  repeated.    "  And  it 


228  HUGH  GWYETH  ca 

was  growing  bravely.  He'd  a  had  no  need  to 
call  me  Roundhead  any  more.  I  would  not  have 
used  you  so."  He  slipped  his  hand  down  over 
his  eyes,  and  burst  into  a  pitiful  sort  of  whimper- 
ing, he  knew  not  why. 

"  Be  silent  now ! "  Strangwayes  cried,  with  a 
sharpness  that  made  Hugh  quiet  with  pure 
amazement  that  his  friend  could  use  such  a  tone 
to  him.  But  after  that  Strangwayes  put  his  pillow 
into  shape,  and,  covering  him  up,  bade  him  sleep, 
with  all  his  old  kindness. 

After  sleeping  long  and  comfortably  Hugh 
awoke  to  see  a  candle  flickering  on  the  table, 
and  the  small  window  carefully  hidden  over  with 
a  curtain.  "  Are  you  here,  Dick  ? "  he  asked, 
and  Strangwayes,  rising  from  before  the  fire, 
came  to  the  side  of  his  pallet.  "  Awake  again, 
Hugh?  Come,  don't  you  think  you  could  eat  a 
bit  ? " 

"  I  know  not,"  Hugh  spoke  with  long  pauses. 
"  Why,  perhaps  I  am  hungry.  I  thought  some- 
thing was  amiss." 

Strangwayes  laughed,  for  no  visible  reason, 
and,  presently  fetching  him  broth,  fed  him  with 
slow  spoonfuls.  The  food  put  enough  life  into 
Hugh  for  him  to  ask  at  length,  "  Where  are 
we  ?  " 

"  In  a  back  chamber  of  the  alehouse  of  the 
'  Sceptre.'  There,  question  no  farther.  Your 
duty  now  is  but  to  eat  and  sleep." 

For  many  hours  Hugh  obeyed  that  command 
unquestioningly,  and  pained  himself  only  to  take 
the  merest  outer  observation  of  what  went  on 
about  him.  A  small  pompous  man  in  black, 


xiv           UNDER  THE  KING'S  DISPLEASURE          229 

who  dressed  his  wounds  and  left  ill-tasting  drugs^ 
came  twice  to  the  room ;  the  drawer,  Martin, 
came  often  with  food ;  and  Strangwayes  was 
there  always,  right  at  his  bedside,  whenever  he 
chose  to  call  upon  him.  For  the  rest,  there  was 
the  crackling  fire  to  watch,  and  the  window. 
Once  when  he  looked  to  it  of  a  morning  he 
saw  it  thick  with  white  frost,  and  Strangwayes, 
coming  to  the  pallet,  flung  a  cloak  over  him 
as  he  lay.  Hugh  watched  him  an  instant,  then 
broke  out  irrelevantly,  "  Dick,  have  I  been  very 
ill  ? " 

"  Just  a  bit,"  Strangwayes  replied,  in  his  dryest 
tone. 

"  From  the  duel,  was  it  not  ?  "  Hugh  pursued ; 
then  suddenly :  "  Tell  me,  how  did  it  fare  with 
Bellasis  ?  Has  he  recovered  before  me  ?  " 

"  He  is  recovered,"  Strangwayes  answered,  and 
hastened  away  to  mend  the  fire. 

But  four  and  twenty  hours  later  Hugh  attacked 
his  friend  with  a  new  query:  "Why  does  not 
Frank  or  George  come  to  visit  me  now  ?  I  think 
I  be  strong  enough." 

"  Wait  a  time  longer,"  Strangwayes  urged ;  so 
Hugh  waited  and  pondered  much.  For  his  head 
did  not  ache  now  whenever  he  tried  to  think,  so 
he  went  over  all  he  remembered  of  the  last  days, 
and  concluded  on  this  and  that  till  he  was  ready 
to  ask  farther  questions. 

The  late  cold  that  made  the  window  white  had 
somewhat  abated,  when  for  the  first  time  Strang- 
wayes propped  Hugh  up  in  bed  with  two  cush- 
ions behind  him  and  a  cloak  about  his  shoulders. 
"  I  want  to  ask  you  something,"  Hugh  began 


23o  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

then,  soberly,  "  I  am  quite  strong,  you  see.  Now 
tell  me,  Dick,  did  I  not  hurt  Bellasis  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  Strangwayes  answered,  setting  his  face 
grimly  to  the  front. 

"  Sorely  ?  "  Hugh  urged.     "  Tell  me,  Dick." 

"  You  must  lie  down  again,"  Strangwayes  or- 
dered ;  but  as  he  was  stretched  on  his  back  Hugh 
caught  his  friend's  sleeve.  "  You  must  tell  me," 
he  repeated.  "  Dick,  I  did  not  —  kill  him  ?  " 

In  spite  of  all  he  could  do  Strangwayes'  face 
made  reply,  and  Hugh,  after  one  look,  turned 
himself  to  the  wall. 

Presently  Strangwayes'  arm  was  slipped  under 
his  neck.  "  You  must  not  grieve  for  that  man," 
he  spoke  anxiously. 

At  that  Hugh  turned  and  put  his  arm  round 
Dick  as  he  knelt  by  the  pallet.  "  I  was  not  griev- 
ing," he  said  simply,  "  only  I  was  sorry  that  after 
all  I  could  not  be  sorry  for  him."  Then,  after 
a  moment :  "  Tell  me  all  about  it.  Yes,  now,  I 
pray  you,  Dick." 

Strangwayes  looked  at  him,  then  settled  him- 
self a  little  more  comfortably  on  the  floor  by  the 
pallet.  "  You  remember  the  fight  ?  " 

Hugh  nodded.  "  But  I  cannot  understand 
how  I  had  the  better  of  it." 

"He  gave  it  you,"  Strangwayes  answered.  "  He 
scorned  you  so  he  destroyed  himself.  He  fenced 
as  if  'twere  mere  play,  and  his  last  thrust  was  not 
clean.  It  took  you  beneath  the  small  ribs,  not  a 
mortal  thrust,  and  there  his  rapier  stayed  ham- 
pered. And  while  his  body  was  undefended,  as 
he  strove  to  wrench  his  blade  free,  you  ran  him 
through  the  bowels.  They  carried  him  off  the 


xiv  UNDER  THE   KING'S  DISPLEASURE          231 

field,  I  hear,  but  he  was  bleeding  inside,  and  they 
could  do  nothing  for  him.  So  'twas  well  we  came 
out  from  the  hands  of  the  guard,  for  Lord  Bella- 
sis  was  mad  with  anger,  and  he  has  great  friends 
and  influence  with  the  king,  so  by  next  day  the 
ways  were  laid  and  they  were  seeking  us  to 
answer  for  his  death." 

"  And  you  saved  me  from  them,"  Hugh  said 
under  his  breath,  while  he  tried  to  hug  Dick  with 
one  arm. 

"  Faith,  'twas  saving  myself  at  the  same  time, 
and  I  near  killed  you  in  the  effort.  Jack  Ridy- 
dale  and  I  caught  you  up  on  the  alarm  and 
plunged  into  the  ditch  at  the  edge  of  the  field  —  " 

"  I  remember,"  Hugh  interrupted. 

"  So  do  I,"  Strangwayes  said,  and  tried  to  force 
a  laugh.  "  Sure,  'twas  wet  there.  By  the  favor  of 
fortune  the  watch  passed  over  us,  and  we  fetched 
you  to  the  '  Sceptre  '  and  had  in  a  close-mouthed 
physician.  And  I  was  bravely  frightened,  Hugh, 
for  there  was  no  moving  you  hence,  and  here  we 
lay  in  the  jaws  of  the  enemy.  No,  no,  you're  in 
no  danger  now.  For  so  soon  as  we  were  safe  in 
the  alehouse  good  old  Ridydale  made  for  the 
stable,  and  the  watch  had  not  yet  searched  here, 
so  the  horses  were  untouched.  He  got  him  on 
his  own  steed,  took  your  Bayard  and  my  Black 
Boy  by  the  bridles,  and  rode  for  the  west  as  fast 
as  spur  could  drive.  Toward  dawn  he  faced 
about  and  trotted  home  again,  the  horses  all  be- 
lathered  and  crestfallen,  and,  jogging  along  the 
road  in  such  trim,  he  was  seized  upon  by  the  zeal- 
ous patrol  and  haled  into  the  city  to  answer  as  to 
our  whereabouts." 


232  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

"  They  did  not  harm  him  ?  "  Hugh  asked  anx- 
iously. 

"  Harm  him  ?  Nay,  the  old  scoundrel  was  more 
than  their  match.  He  swore  we  had  posted  all 
night,  made  a  change  of  horses,  and  headed  into 
the  enemy's  country  to  take  ship  out  of  the 
realm.  They  coaxed  him  and  they  bullied  him 
for  three  days,  but  the  rascal  lied  with  such  liber- 
ality and  discretion  that  in  the  end  they  must 
release  him.  So  the  matter  stands,  for  some  do 
truly  believe  we  have  got  beyond  seas,  and  my 
Lord  Bellasis  has  still  a  hope  that  we  be  some- 
where in  the  country  round  about  here.  And 
the  most  of  the  people,  Hugh,  have  clean  forgot 
about  us  by  this." 

"  None  know  where  we  are  ?  That  is  why 
none  of  the  others  have  come  hither  ? " 

"  No ;  'tis  that  I  wanted  few  to  come  drawing 
suspicions  to  us.  Sir  William  knows,  and  he  was 
pleased  to  approve  your  conduct,  Hugh,  and  sent 
us  supply  of  money  by  the  trusty  old  drawer 
here.  Ridydale  durst  venture  to  us  only  once, 
for  fear  of  being  tracked.  'Twas  when  he  was 
new  released  and  he  had  had  no  word  how  it  was 
faring  with  you.  So  he  came  and  he  brought 
news  of  Captain  Gwyeth." 

Hugh  made  no  reply. 

"  If  you  have  the  strength  to  hear  it,  I'd  fain 
ease  me  of  it,"  Strangwayes  went  on.  "  This 
is  what  he  had  done,  Hugh :  When  he  got  my 
word  that  man  had  forced  a  fight  upon  you  be- 
cause you  were  your  father's  son,  and  when  I 
prayed  him  to  meet  the  hacking  cutthroat  — 
Heaven  forgive  me  !  Bellasis  is  dead  now.  Well, 


xiv           UNDER  THE  KING'S  DISPLEASURE          233 

you  know  the  answer  Captain  Gwyeth  sent  you. 
Having  shown  his  proud  temper  in  that,  he  set 
out,  not  to  join  us  and  intercept  the  man  upon 
the  field,  but  to  seek  him  in  the  city.  Now 
Bellasis,  like  a  wise  man,  had  withdrawn  himself 
on  a  suspicion  of  that,  so  Alan  Gwyeth  did  but 
meet  Bellasis'  cousin,  Herbert,  who  drew  him  into 
a  scuffle  under  the  very  shadow  of  the  Castle. 
They  were  promptly  put  under  arrest  therefor. 
Then  the  captain  found  the  hour  of  the  duel 
coming  on,  and  he  laid  by  the  heels  for  his  folly, 
and  then  —  "  Strangwayes  paused,  and  tried  to 
laugh  himself  into  a  less  earnest  tone.  "  Well, 
Hugh,  he  prayed  to  see  the  officer  of  the  watch, 
and  conveyed  unto  him  full  information  of  the 
place  and  time  of  the  duel." 

"  Then  'tis  he  that  is  to  thank  for  bringing  the 
watch  upon  us  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  for  making  us  hale  you  into  the 
ditch  and  near  rack  your  poor  body  to  pieces.  I 
swear  the  rough  handling  we  had  to  give  you  had 
as  much  share  in  bringing  on  the  fever  as  your 
wounds.  And  as  you  lay  in  the  very  heat  of  the 
fever  came  this  fine  proud  message  from  him  that 
his  will  was  to  come  unto  you.  And  I  wrote  back 
unto  him  so  he  has  not  come.  But  if  you  wish 
him,  Hugh,  I'll  —  well,  doubtless  I  can  crave  his 
pardon,  and  then  he  will  come  to  you." 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  see  him,"  Hugh  answered 
coldly.  "  What  did  you  write  him,  Dick?" 

"  'Twas  not  just  a  temperate  letter,  I'm  fearing. 
For  your  fever  had  run  four  days,  and  there  seemed 
no  change  save  the  worst  change.  Oh,  well," 
Strangwayes  laughed, "  I  wrote  him  that  his  cursed 


234  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

ugly  pride  had  never  brought  anything  to  you 
but  disgrace  and  pain,  and  now  he  had  killed  you 
he  should  leave  you  to  me.  I  told  him  his  blun- 
dering stupidity  in  sending  the  watch  would  have 
wrecked  your  honor,  had  they  come  ten  minutes 
earlier,  and  now  it  had  wrecked  your  life.  And  I 
told  him  he  had  been  no  father  to  you  while  you 
lived,  and  he  should  not  play  that  part  in  your 
death.  I  said  if  he  came  hither  I  would  bar  the 
door  in  his  face.  Truth,  I  must  have  been  near 
mad  to  write  so  uncivilly,  but — I  had  been  watch- 
ing with  you  three  nights,  and  I  was  worried  for 
you,  lad.  So  he  did  not  come.  And  you  do  not 
wish  him  to  ?  " 

"  No,  never,"  Hugh  said,  then  lay  silent  so 
long  that  Strangwayes,  slipping  his  arm  from 
beneath  his  head,  had  risen,  when  Hugh  broke 
out,  "  Dick,  you  must  have  sent  him  a  message 
the  day  of  the  duel." 

"  Hm,"  said  Strangwayes,  heading  for  the  fire- 
place. 

"  You  promised  me  —  " 

"  Only  not  to  speak  to  him,"  the  other  put  in 
hastily.  "  I  did  not.  I  wrote  him  a  letter  there 
in  the  bakeshop,  and  sent  it  by  a  stray  trooper. 
Dear  lad,  I  was  trained  for  a  lawyer.  How  could 
I  resist  a  quibble  ?  You're  going  to  forgive  me, 
Hugh." 

"  Tis  a  very  little  fault  in  you,  Dick,"  Hugh 
answered.  "  Though  if  another  had  done  it  —  " 

"  Well,  I'll  never  attempt  to  incline  Captain 
Gwyeth  to  his  duty  again,  rest  assured,"  Strang- 
wayes ended  their  talk  earnestly. 

So,  while  he  still   had  barely  strength  to  lift 


xiv  UNDER  THE   KING'S  DISPLEASURE          235 

his  head  from  off  the  pillow,  Hugh  came  to  full 
knowledge  of  how  his  affairs  stood.  He  was 
glad  to  be  told  the  worst,  not  be  played  with 
like  a  child,  yet  the  realization  of  the  desperate 
state  to  which  the  word  and  the  blow  at  the 
Oxford  ordinary  had  reduced,  not  only  his  own 
fortunes,  but  those  of  his  friend,  made  his  slow 
convalescence  doubly  hard  to  bear.  Day  followed 
day,  all  alike,  save  that  on  some  the  fire  was 
heaped  high  for  warmth,  while  on  others,  more 
frequently  as  time  passed,  the  narrow  window 
was  flung  wide  open,  and  a  breath  of  spring-like 
air  sweeping  in  made  confinement  all  the  less 
endurable.  Then  Hugh  fretted  miserably,  till  he 
looked  at  Dick,  and  thought  what  it  must  mean 
to  a  man  to  be  pent  up  in  a  sick  room  while  he 
had  all  his  limbs  and  strength  at  his  command. 
For  Strangwayes  never  left  him,  save  for  a  half- 
hour  or  so  at  night,  when  he  used  to  slip  out  by 
the  back  way  and  tramp  about  the  bowling  green, 
to  bring  in  with  him  so  fine  a  breeziness  that 
Hugh  used  to  lie  awake  for  his  coming.  At  first 
Strangwayes  did  not  quit  the  chamber  even  for  his 
rest,  but,  wrapping  his  cloak  about  him,  stretched 
himself  across  the  hearth,  till  Hugh,  with  gaining 
strength,  assured  him  he  could  fare  well  enough 
without  constant  watching,  and  begged  him  to 
get  a  room  and  a  bed.  After  that  Hugh  passed 
long,  sleepless  hours  of  the  night  in  loneliness, 
while  through  the  little  window  he  watched  the 
varying  shades  of  the  sky  and  the  stars  that  had 
so  many  times  looked  back  at  him. 

During  the  day  the  chief   diversions  were   to 
eat,  and  to  note  how  many  minutes  more  he  con- 


236  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

trived  to  sit  up  than  on  the  preceding  day.  In 
the  intervals  he  and  Dick  played  cards,  till  the 
pack  was  wofully  thumbed,  or  chess,  which  Hugh 
found  easier,  for  he  need  only  lie  on  his  back  and 
look  sidewise  at  the  board.  Later  Dick  unearthed 
the  whole  library  of  the  "  Sceptre,"  a  fat  "  Palmerin 
of  England,"  whose  "gallant  history  "  he  patiently 
read  aloud  to  Hugh,  who  did  not  find  the  story 
enlivening,  but  got  to  appreciate  Dick's  sarcastic 
comments.  Still  better  he  liked  to  hear  his  friend 
talk,  half  nonsense,  half  truth,  of  the  things  he 
had  seen  and  done  when  he  served  in  the  Low 
Countries  and  made  his  stay  in  Paris.  "  How 
should  you  like  to  go  thither  yourself?  "  Strang- 
wayes  asked  abruptly  one  March  morning,  when 
for  the  second  time  Hugh  was  sitting  up  in  a  chair. 

"  With  you  ?  "  the  boy  asked  quickly. 

"  No,  not  with  me  now,"  Strangwayes  answered ; 
"  I  cannot  quit  the  kingdom,  Hugh,  while  there's 
a  blow  to  be  struck.  Even  though  I  be  a  volun- 
teer—" 

"  Dick ! "  Hugh  cried,  "  you've  lost  your  com- 
mission through  me  ? " 

"  No,  no,  no,"  Strangwayes  said  hastily.  "  Only 
'twould  be  awkward  to  come  to  the  front  and 
claim  it  while  this  duel  is  still  remembered.  Sir 
William  will  always  keep  me  a  place  in  his  regi- 
ment. And  when  you  are  cured,  'tis  my  purpose 
to  go  into  the  North  to  fight.  I'll  not  be  easily 
recognized  now  my  beard  is  grown,  and  I'll  put 
another  name  to  me.  There  in  the  North  I  may 
chance  to  do  something  that  will  bring  us  a  par- 
don for  what  we  had  a  share  in." 

All  of  which  Hugh  only  half  heeded  as  he  sat 


xiv          UNDER  THE   KING'S  DISPLEASURE          237 

with  his  head  in  his  hands.  For  it  was  worse 
than  the  realization  that  he  had  killed  a  man  to 
know  that  he  had  wrought  Dick's  fortunes  such 
a  terrible  shock. 

Strangwayes  said  what  he  could  that  was  gen- 
erous, and  ended  with  the  old  proposition  to  send 
Hugh,  so  soon  as  he  was  recovered,  into  the  Low 
Countries,  where  he  would  be  safe  from  all  pur- 
suit. But  Hugh  shook  his  head.  "  I  cannot, 
Dick;  I'd  rather  be  hanged  here  on  English 
ground,  or  whatever  else  they  would  do  to  me. 
Why,  I  could  not  speak  their  queer  language 
yonder.  And  you've  pampered  me  so,  I  durst 
not  venture  out  among  strangers  again.  I'll  do 
as  you  do,  change  my  name,  and  volunteer  some- 
where else." 

It  was  at  this  time  he  made  a  resolution,  which 
he  had  a  chance  to  carry  out  perhaps  a  week 
later,  when  Ridydale  paid  him  a  cautious  visit. 
Sir  William's  regiment  marched  northward  in 
two  days,  the  corporal  explained,  bound  to  garri- 
son Tamworth,  and  he  had  thought  it  well  to 
come  see  Master  Hugh  ere  he  went,  and  bring 
him  his  accoutrements  from  his  quarters  at 
Oxford.  Hugh  watched  his  chance  till  Dick  had 
left  them  alone,  then  prayed  Ridydale  get  Bayard 
from  Turner's  stable  and  sell  him.  "  I  have  been 
a  heavy  charge  unto  my  friends,  and  am  like  to 
be  heavier,"  he  explained  painfully.  "  And  in  any 
case  I  cannot  keep  the  horse,  for  he  is  known  as 
mine,  and  might  draw  suspicion  to  me.  He's  a 
good  beast  and  should  fetch  a  fair  price.  Only 
try  your  best,  Corporal,  to  sell  him  unto  some  one 
will  use  him  kindly." 


238  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Ridydale  demurred,  then  yielded ;  and  before 
he  left  Oxford,  brought  Hugh  five  sovereigns,  the 
purchase  money.  Then  there  was  an  explanation 
with  Strangwayes,  who  was  downright  angry,  but 
finally  laughed  at  himself.  "  Only  a  fool  would 
quarrel  with  such  a  remnant  of  a  fellow  as  you 
look  now,"  he  concluded. 

Hugh  felt  the  term  was  justified  the  first  time 
he  dragged  on  his  clothes,  which  seemed  cut  for 
a  lad  of  vastly  greater  brawn,  and,  contriving  to 
hobble  into  the  adjoining  chamber,  got  sight  of 
himself  in  the  glass.  Eyes,  mouth,  and  a  raw 
scar  sheer  across  his  left  cheek,  seemed  all  that 
was  left  of  his  face,  and  his  close-cut  hair  added 
to  the  unfamiliarity  of  his  look.  "  Scars  are  good 
adornments  for  a  soldier,"  he  said  bravely,  but  he 
tried  in  vain  to  find  a  complimentary  phrase  for 
the  painful  stiffness  that  lingered  in  his  thigh. 

By  dint  of  stumbling  about  his  chamber,  how- 
ever, the  lameness  wore  off,  till  he  could  walk 
with  some  surety  of  not  falling  against  the  fur- 
niture ;  and  then  there  came  a  night  he  never 
forgot,  when  Strangwayes  helped  him  carefully 
down  the  stairs,  and,  pacing  slowly  across  the 
bowling  green,  they  sat  down  on  a  bench  that 
Hugh  remembered.  It  was  a  clear  spring  even- 
ing, with  the  stars  numerous  and  bright,  and  an 
earthy  smell  in  the  soft  air.  Hugh  felt  the  ground 
beneath  his  feet  once  more,  and  stared  at  the 
poplars  that  still  looked  bare  in  the  nighttime, 
while  his  heart  grew  full  at  the  thought  that  he 
was  alive  to  enjoy  the  spring  and  all  the  deeds 
that  were  yet  to  do.  He  spoke  it  all  out,  as  he 
leaned  against  Strangwayes,  by  saying:  "I  am 


xiv          UNDER  THE   KING'S  DISPLEASURE          239 

well  again  now,  Dick.  When  shall  we  be  off  to 
the  North  ? " 

"  North  ?  Not  for  you  at  present,  lad,M  Strang- 
wayes  replied.  "  You're  no  figure  for  a  camp  yet. 
So  I  am  going  to  carry  you  to  a  farm  called 
Ashcroft,  somewhat  toward  Warwickshire,  where 
dwells  a  distant  kinswoman  of  Sir  William  Pley- 
dall  and  of  my  mother.  'Tis  a  good,  bluff  widow, 
whom  I  shall  bid  keep  you  well  hidden,  and  see 
you  go  to  bed  betimes,  and  do  not  run  off  to  kill 
Roundheads  till  I  give  the  word.  When  you  have 
back  your  strength  again,  you  shall  join  me  in 
Yorkshire,  and  we'll  go  a-soldiering  together 
again." 

For  the  next  week  Hugh  felt  he  had  something 
to  look  forward  to,  though  expectation  made  the 
days  even  more  tedious.  With  long  intervals  of 
rest,  he  furbished  up  his  sword  and  spurs,  and, 
when  that  interest  failed,  spent  much  time  in  de- 
vising a  name  to  assume  till  his  peace  was  made 
with  his  Majesty.  Strangwayes  had  announced 
early  that  he  meant  to  go  by  the  name  of  Henry 
Ramsden,  and  there  was  an  end  of  it ;  but  Hugh 
had  an  unaccountable  feeling  that  he  did  not  wish 
to  take  any  one  of  the  common  names  that  men 
he  knew  had  borne,  and  bestow  it  on  a  hunted 
duellist.  He  finally  ended  by  calling  himself 
Edmund  Burley,  but  it  was  a  long  process  of 
selection,  and  the  choice  was  made  only  on  the 
day  he  left  the  "  Sceptre." 

They  made  their  start  about  midnight,  when 
the  road  was  quiet,  and  the  houses  in  the  fields 
beyond  the  alehouse  were  all  black.  Two  horses 
were  fetched  them  at  the  side  door,  the  drawer  held 


24o  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

a  lantern  half  screened  with  his  hand  as  they 
mounted,  and  the  host  wished  them  God-speed  in 
a  guarded,  low  voice.  Then  they  paced  softly 
into  the  highway  and  headed  northward  under 
the  starlight.  At  first  Hugh  sat  straight,  and 
would  gladly  have  talked  with  Dick  to  tell  him 
how  easy,  after  all,  he  found  the  exercise.  But 
Dick  would  have  no  speaking  till  almost  cock- 
crow, when  they  were  riding  through  a  stretch 
of  lonely  fields,  and  by  then  no  jauntiness  was 
left  in  Hugh,  only  dull  pain  and  faintness,  so  he 
had  no  will  to  say  anything  except,  "  Thank 
Heaven  ! "  when  Strangwayes,  fairly  lifting  him 
off  his  horse,  half  carried  him  into  a  dwelling- 
place. 

There  he  spent  the  day,  sleeping  some  and  for 
the  rest  lying  still  as  he  was  bidden,  till  twilight 
came  on  and  once  more  they  got  to  saddle.  A 
little  fine  rain  was  sifting  down  now,  and  the  cold 
wet  on  his  face  refreshed  Hugh  somewhat,  but 
even  then,  when  they  halted  at  last  at  the  gate 
of  a  lonely  farm  enclosure,  he  was  drooping  over 
his  saddle-bow.  He  noted  of  the  house  only  that 
there  was  a  green  settle  in  the  living  room,  the 
arm  of  which  was  of  just  the  right  height  to  rest 
his  head  upon,  and  the  loud-voiced  woman  who 
had  roused  up  to  greet  them  held  a  guttering 
candle  so  he  was  assured  the  dripping  wax  must 
soon  burn  her  fingers. 

After  that  he  remembered  Dick  helped  him 
to  bed  in  a  little  upper  chamber ;  the  sheets  felt 
good,  and  he  shut  his  eyes  to  keep  out  the  trou- 
blesome candlelight.  "  Rain  or  no,  I'm  going 
to  push  on  for  Sir  William's  house  in  Worcester- 


xiv          UNDER  THE   KING'S  DISPLEASURE          241 

shire,"  Dick  was  saying.  "  You're  safe  here  with 
Widow  Flemyng,  Hugh.  And  ere  long  I'll  have 
you  with  me  again.  God  keep  you  till  then,  old 
lad ! "  He  bent  down  and  kissed  Hugh,  who 
hugged  him  with  a  sudden  childish  feeling  that 
he  could  not  let  Dick  go. 

So  he  turned  over  with  his  face  in  the  pillow, 
broad  awake  now,  and  he  heard  Dick's  boots 
creaking  down  the  stairway.  He  lay  listening 
alertly  for  more,  but  he  heard  only  the  spatter 
of  rain  upon  the  window. 


CHAPTER  XV 

THE   LIFE    OF   EDMUND    BURLEY 

AT  one  end  of  the  bench  outside  the  garden 
door  of  Ashcroft,  Widow  Flemyng's  great  black 
cat  lay  sunning  himself;  at  the  other  end  Hugh 
Gwyeth  sat  hugging  one  knee,  while  he  wondered 
drowsily  which  were  the  lazier,  he  or  the  cat.  In 
the  alert  blue  spring  weather  the  tips  of  green 
things  were  bursting  through  the  soft  mould  of 
the  garden ;  the  birds  were  making  a  great  ado 
in  the  trees ;  and  in  the  field  beyond  the  hedge 
the  widow's  man,  Ralph,  was  ploughing,  and 
whistling  as  he  ploughed.  Only  Master  Hugh 
Gwyeth  lingered  idly  on  the  garden  bench  and 
meditatively  handled  the  flabby  muscles  of  his 
arm  till  he  grew  impatient  with  himself.  Three 
weeks  and  more  he  had  been  at  Ashcroft,  yet  this 
was  all  the  strength  he  had  gained  or  was  likely 
to  gain  with  sitting  still.  He  dragged  the  cat, 
heavy  and  reluctant,  up  from  its  nap,  and  was  try- 
ing to  coax  the  creature  to  jump  over  his  hands, 
which  at  least  required  a  little  exertion,  when 
Nancy,  the  serving-maid,  came  out  to  potter 
about  the  garden.  Spying  him,  she  called :  "  Don't 
'ee  vex  poor  Gib,  now.  Better  get  thee  into  the 
kitchen ;  the  mistress  is  at  her  baking." 

Hugh  laughed,  and,  rising  leisurely,  made  his 


CH.  xv        THE   LIFE   OF  EDMUND   BURLEY  243 

way  down  the  garden  to  the  rear  door.  Women 
were  droll  creatures,  he  reflected ;  his  mother,  of 
course,  had  always  treated  him  with  tenderness, 
but  why  these  strangers  should  pamper  him  like 
a  child,  and  concern  themselves  about  his  every 
movement,  was  more  than  he  could  puzzle  out. 
From  the  first  Nancy  had  made  no  end  of  com- 
miserating him  for  the  scar  on  his  face,  and  even 
the  widow  herself,  for  all  her  sharp  ways,  had 
been  melted  to  pity,  when  she  came  to  examine 
his  wardrobe.  "  Well,  well,  well !  when  did  a 
woman  put  hand  to  these  shirts  ? "  she  had  cried, 
whereat  Hugh  informed  her  blushingly  that  'twas 
his  custom  to  have  his  shirts  washed  till  they 
grew  too  tattered  to  serve  even  under  a  buff 
jacket,  and  then  he  threw  them  away.  "  You 
poor  thriftless  child ! "  sighed  the  widow,  "  sure, 
you're  not  fit  to  be  sent  to  the  wars."  So  she 
mended  his  shirts  and  stockings,  and,  when  that 
way  of  showing  her  motherly  care  failed,  brewed 
him  ill-tasting  concoctions  of  herbs,  which  Hugh 
swallowed  courteously,  though  with  inward  pro- 
tests against  this  expression  of  good-will.  He 
was  far  more  grateful  when  her  kindness  finally 
took  the  form  of  cooking  him  such  food  as  he 
liked,  and  pressing  him  to  eat  at  all  times,  for  his 
illness  had  left  him  with  an  alarming  appetite, 
which  without  such  connivance  could  never  have 
been  decently  satisfied. 

He  halted  now,  as  he  had  often  done,  with  his 
elbows  on  the  sill  of  the  opened  window  in  the 
long  kitchen,  and  took  a  sweeping  survey  of  the 
dressers  and  the  fireplace  and  the  brick  oven. 
Just  by  the  window  stood  a  table  at  which  the 


244  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

Widow  Flemyng,  with  her  sleeves  tucked  up  and 
her  broad  face  flushed,  was  rolling  out  pastry. 
"  I  marvel  you've  not  been  here  before,"  she  said 
gruffly,  as  she  caught  sight  of  him ;  "  where  have 
you  been  all  this  morning  now  ? " 

"  Teasing  the  cat,"  Hugh  answered.  "  Before 
that  I  was  down  through  the  meadow  —  " 

The  widow  paused  with  her  rolling-pin  sus- 
pended. "  That  meadow  again  ?  And  no  doubt 
you  wet  your  feet ! " 

"  On  my  word,  good  widow,"  Hugh  laughed, 
"  my  kinsfolk  have  trusted  me  abroad  without  a 
nurse  for  several  years  now." 

"  The  more  fools  they !  "  she  replied,  smacking 
the  pastry  smartly  once  more. 

Profiting  by  the  pause,  Hugh  reached  one  arm 
in  at  the  window  and  helped  himself  to  a  strip  of 
pie-crust,  all  hot  and  newly  baked,  that  lay  there; 
he  might  repress  his  early  fondness  for  honey 
and  jam,  but  crisp  pastry  was  still  too  great  a 
temptation  for  him  to  resist. 

"  That's  a  right  Roundhead  trick  to  come 
thieving  at  a  poor  woman's  window ! "  said  the 
widow. 

"Was  there  never  such  a  thing  as  a  Cavalier 
thief?"  Hugh  suggested. 

"  I  never  speak  treason,  sir.  There  do  be  some 
that  say  there  is  a  garrison  yonder  at  Woodstead 
Manor  that  never  was  known  to  pay  for  what  it 
lives  by,  but  I  speak  no  ill  of  the  king's  men, 
you'll  note." 

Hugh  had  cause  enough  to  note  and  remem- 
ber the  conversation  a  few  days  later.  Of  a  dull 
gray  afternoon  he  had  taken  himself  to  his  cham- 


xv  THE   LIFE   OF  EDMUND   BURLEY  245 

her,  dutifully  to  practise  thrusts  with  his  sword 
at  a  round  mark  on  the  wainscot,  an  exercise 
which  proved  tedious,  so  he  was  glad  enough 
when  a  noise  of  horses  stamping  and  men  calling 
in  the  yard  below  gave  him  an  excuse  for  run- 
ning to  the  window.  At  the  front  of  the  cottage 
nothing  was  to  be  seen,  so,  flinging  on  his  coat, 
he  ran  downstairs  into  the  kitchen,  whence  came 
the  sound  of  high  talk.  Bursting  into  the  room, 
he  found  Nancy  crouched  by  the  fireplace,  and 
Ralph  skulking  by  her,  while  at  the  door  stood 
Widow  Flemyng,  arms  akimbo,  in  hot  discourse 
with  a  cross-eyed  trooper,  who  wore  the  king's 
colors. 

"  I  tell  you,  it  shall  not  be  put  up ! "  the  man 
was  blustering.  "  We'd  scarce  set  foot  in  your 
stable  when  your  rascal  would  be  breaking  a 
stave  across  Garrett's  head." 

"  And  I  tell  you,  you  shall  put  up  with  it !  "  re- 
torted the  widow.  "  Do  you  think  to  come  plun- 
dering decent  loyal  bodies,  you  minching  thieves? 
Not  a  step  do  you  stir  into  this  house.  Reach 
me  hither  the  kettle,  you  white-livered  Ralph." 

Hugh  prudently  got  the  kettle  into  his  own 
hands,  then  presented  himself  at  the  door  with 
the  query,  "  What's  amiss  ?  " 

"  Here  are  three  rogues  from  Woodstead  who 
seek  to  plunder  the  very  horses  from  my  plough," 
replied  the  widow,  clapping  hands  on  the  kettle. 
"  Now  come  in  if  you  dare,  the  pack  of  you !  " 

But  Hugh  stayed  her  arm,  while  he  looked  out 
and  got  the  situation.  In  the  open  space  be- 
tween the  rear  door  and  the  stable  three  horses 
drooped  their  heads,  and  by  them  lingered  two 


246  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

dragoons,  one  heavy  and  surly,  the  other  a  thin- 
faced  fellow,  who,  looking  sharply  at  Hugh,  nudged 
his  comrade.  It  seemed  just  an  ordinary  small 
foraging  band,  who  were  going  beyond  their  au- 
thority, so  Hugh  stepped  out  and  confronted  the 
cross-eyed  man  with  a  stern,  "  What's  your  war- 
rant for  this  ? " 

"  King's  service,  sir,"  the  other  replied,  gazing 
at  him  a  little  doubtfully. 

"  'Tis  service  that  will  profit  you  little  if  it 
come  to  your  captain's  ears,"  Hugh  answered. 
"  There  are  none  here  but  loyal  people  and 
friends  to  the  king.  Best  take  advice  and  go 
back  empty-handed.  'Twill  be  for  your  good  in 
the  end." 

Just  there  a  hand  was  clapped  heavily  upon  his 
collar;  instinctively  Hugh  was  ducking  to  wrest 
himself  clear,  when  the  cross-eyed  man,  too,  caught 
him  by  the  throat  of  his  jacket,  and,  realizing  the 
uselessness  of  a  struggle,  the  boy  held  himself 
quiet.  "  We'll  go  back  to  Woodstead  right 
enough,  sir,"  spoke  the  thin-faced  trooper,  who 
had  first  seized  him.  "  But  you'll  go  with  us, 
Master  Gwyeth." 

"  My  name  is  Edmund  Burley,"  Hugh  replied 
stoutly,  though  the  heart  seemed  all  at  once  to 
have  gone  out  of  his  body. 

"  Well,  you've  enough  the  look  of  the  other 
gentleman  for  Lord  Bellasis  to  pay  ten  pound  for 
the  sight  of  your  face.  You  can  explain  to  him 
who  you  are,  sir,"  scoffed  the  thin-faced  man. 
"  Fetch  a  horse  from  the  stable  for  him,  Garrett." 

After  that,  as  in  an  ugly  dream,  matters  went 
without  Hugh's  agency.  He  felt  his  arm  ache 


xv  THE  LIFE   OF  EDMUND   BURLEY  247 

in  the  hard  grip  of  the  cross-eyed  man,  which  he 
had  no  hope  to  shake  off;  he  heard  the  widow  in 
heated  expostulation  with  the  thin-faced  trooper, 
assuring  him  the  gentleman  had  dwelt  with  her 
near  six  months,  and  could  not  have  had  a  hand 
in  the  mischief  they  charged  him  with ;  he  saw 
Nancy  come  out,  all  blubbering,  to  bring  him  his 
hat,  and  he  said,  "  Why,  don't  cry  over  it,  wench," 
and  wondered  at  the  dull  tone  of  his  voice.  It 
seemed  an  interminable  time,  but  at  length  one 
of  the  plough  horses  was  led  out,  all  saddled,  and, 
mounting  as  they  bade  him,  he  rode  away  with 
them  in  the  gray  of  the  afternoon.  As  they 
passed  out  from  the  yard  he  heard  the  door  of 
Ashcroft  slam,  and  by  that  he  knew  the  widow 
was  much  moved. 

Then,  turning  eastward,  they  trotted  slowly 
across  gray  fields,  a  trooper  on  either  side  Hugh's 
horse,  and  he  went  as  they  guided.  For  he  took 
no  heed  to  them,  as  he  told  himself  that  Dick 
Strangwayes  was  far  away  in  the  North,  Sir 
William  busied  at  Tamworth,  and  in  Oxford 
there  was  not  a  friend  to  aid  him.  Already  he 
seemed  to  feel  the  chill  of  the  cells  in  the  old 
Castle  at  Oxford,  and  to  see  a  room  full  of  stern 
men  who  bullied  and  frightened  him ;  after  that 
he  thought  to  hear  the  cart  jolting  beneath  him 
across  the  stony  streets,  while  the  people  ran  and 
pointed  at  him;  and  then  he  felt  a  rope  about 
his  throat.  He  tried  helplessly  to  battle  off  such 
thoughts,  but  they  still  pressed  upon  him  till  his 
head  was  stupid  with  turning  them  over,  and, 
listening  uncomprehendingly  to  the  talk  of  those 
about  him,  he  rode  in  a  sort  of  daze. 


248  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

The  afternoon  grew  grayer  and  grayer,  and  was 
merging  into  twilight  when  they  rode  through  a 
poor  village,  beyond  which,  upon  a  barren  swell 
of  highland,  they  came  to  a  stockade  flung  around 
a  small  manor  house.  They  crossed  a  rough 
bridge  over  a  moat,  and  so,  keeping  to  the  left 
of  the  house,  drew  rein  at  length  before  a  great 
stable.  "  Yon's  the  captain,  now,"  spoke  the  cross- 
eyed man,  peering  into  the  dark  of  the  building. 

"  Looking  to  the  cocks,  I'll  be  bound,"  muttered 
he  of  the  sharp  face. 

"  What  dog's  mischief  have  you  been  loitering 
about,  you  knaves  ? "  came  from  within  the  stable, 
and  the  voice  was  one  Hugh  remembered. 

"  Captain  Butler ! "  he  cried,  flinging  himself 
from  the  saddle,  and,  stumbling  through  the  door, 
near  embraced  the  big  Irishman  who  came  to 
meet  him. 

"  Good  faith,  'tis  not  —  "  Butler  began. 

"  I  am  Edmund  Burley,"  Hugh  interrupted 
feverishly.  "  Sure,  you  remember  me,  sir?  " 

Butler  pulled  him  outside,  where  the  light  was 
clearer,  and  after  that  instant's  pause  turned  upon 
the  troopers  with  a  violent  demand  as  to  what 
they  meant.  One  replied,  "  'Tis  he  who  killed 
Master  Bellasis ; "  but  the  captain  cut  him  short 
with  a  volley  of  abuse,  that  they  durst  hale  thither 
an  innocent  man  and  a  friend  of  his,  too,  and  fol- 
lowed it  with  threats  of  a  flogging  to  them  all  and 
bluster  and  oaths,  till  the  three  were  cowed  into 
a  frightened  silence. 

"  Well,  I'll  be  easy  with  you  this  time,  you 
rogues,"  Butler  resumed  after  a  moment,  "for 
Master  Burley  is  a  merciful  man,  and  I'm  think- 


xv  THE   LIFE  OF  EDMUND   BURLEY  249 

ing  would  be  better  pleased  that  you  went  free. 
And,  faith,  he  bears  so  little  malice  he  wishes  you 
all  to  drink  his  health."  Thus  admonished,  Hugh 
pulled  three  shillings  out  of  his  pocket  and  tossed 
them  to  his  late  captors  before  Butler  led  him 
away  to  the  house.  "  Come  have  a  drink  with 
me,  Burley,"  he  said,  and  added,  with  a  chuckle, 
"  I  take  it  you  need  it." 

"  That  was  a  narrow  escape,  eh,  Gwyeth  ? "  he 
spoke  later,  as  Hugh  was  swallowing  down  a 
bumper  of  Spanish  wine  in  the  west  parlor  of 
the  house. 

"  Narrow  as  I  ever  wish,"  Hugh  replied  truth- 
fully. 

"  I  think  my  fellows  will  hold  their  tongues 
now,  betwixt  threats  and  bribes,"  Butler  went  on. 
"  But  after  this  you'd  best  do  as  you  should  have 
done  at  the  first,  shelter  yourself  among  honest 
soldiers,  who'd  die  ere  they'd  let  a  comrade  come 
to  harm,  just  for  spitting  a  paltry  civilian." 

In  the  end  Hugh  thought  it  best  to  take  the 
advice ;  if  he  returned  to  Ashcroft  there  was  no 
reason  that  Cavalier  marauders  should  not  stray 
thither  again,  and  a  second  apprehension  might 
not  end  so  happily.  Then,  besides,  he  was  glad, 
after  his  weeks  of  illness  and  dependence,  to  be 
once  more  among  men,  who  accepted  him  as  an 
equal  and  did  not  fret  him  with  constant  care. 
Holding  this  feeling  rather  ungrateful,  he  took 
pains  to  write  a  very  civil  and  thankful  letter  to 
the  Widow  Flemyng,  which  George  Allestree 
conveyed  to  her,  when  he  rode  to  Ashcroft  with 
one  of  the  men  to  fetch  away  Hugh's  clothes 
and  accoutrements. 


250  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

Allestree  had  welcomed  Hugh  boisterously, 
although  he  had  an  alarming  habit  of  almost 
forgetting  to  call  him  Burley ;  the  blue-eyed  Irish 
volunteer,  Mahone,  received  him  with  open  arms ; 
and  even  the  lieutenant,  Cartwright,  unbent  a 
little  toward  him.  Before  a  fortnight  was  out 
Hugh  understood,  for  by  then  he  felt  he  could 
have  fallen  on  the  neck  of  the  meanest  scamp, 
just  for  joy  at  sight  of  a  new  face  in  the  garrison. 
Woodstead  lay  close  upon  the  borders  of  War- 
wickshire, where  the  rebels  were  up  in  strength, 
so  none  were  allowed  to  venture  forth  far  from 
the  house.  All  day  long  there  was  nothing  to 
do  but  to  walk  up  and  down  the  cramped  en- 
closure, to  converse  with  the  troopers  as  to  sick 
dogs  and  lame  horses,  or  to  watch  Butler's  cocks 
mangle  each  other  in  fight,  till  in  sheer  disgust 
Hugh  turned  away.  But  within  the  house  he 
found  still  less  amusement;  there  was  not  even 
a  Gervase  Markham  or  a  Palmerin  to  read,  so  he 
was  reduced  to  persuading  Allestree  or  Mahone 
into  fencing  with  him,  and,  that  failing,  could 
only  play  at  cards  or  watch  the  others  at  dice, 
and  listen  to  Cartwright's  same  old  stories  or 
the  everlastingly  same  chatter  of  the  younger 
men. 

Once,  to  be  sure,  there  came  a  day  of  excite- 
ment, when  a  part  of  the  troop  prepared  to  ride 
away  to  forage  in  the  hostile  country.  They  set 
forth  bravely  in  the  mid-afternoon,  and  till  they 
were  lost  in  dust  Hugh,  with  neither  a  horse  to 
ride  nor  sufficient  strength  for  the  work,  watched 
them  wistfully  from  the  entrance  gate.  Then 
he  loitered  away  to  his  lonely  supper  with  Cart- 


xv  THE   LIFE   OF  EDMUND   BURLEY  251 

wright,  who  cursed  the  luck  that  left  him  behind 
to  command  the  garrison,  and  drank  so  deeply 
Hugh  must  call  a  man  to  help  him  to  bed.  Next 
day  Butler  and  his  men  came  back,  noisy  and 
victorious,  with  cartloads  of  grain  and  much 
miscellaneous  plunder  that  the  common  soldiery 
had  taken  to  themselves.  They  brought  also  a 
Roundhead  lieutenant,  half-stripped,  grimy,  and 
sullen,  whom  Butler  clapped  into  an  obscure 
room  on  a  spare  diet  till  he  could  find  leisure 
from  his  more  serious  affairs  to  look  to  him. 
For  the  captain  had  laid  hands  on  a  considerable 
amount  of  strong  waters,  so  for  two  days  there 
was  high  carousing  at  Woodstead,  which  shocked 
Hugh,  used  though  he  had  become  among  these 
comrades  to  the  sight  of  hard  drinking. 

While  Butler  and  his  officers  shouted  and 
smashed  glasses  below  stairs,  and  the  men  in 
their  turn  let  discipline  slip,  Hugh,  in  the  hope 
of  getting  some  tidings  of  his  Oldesworth  kin- 
dred, bribed  his  way  in  to  speak  with  the  Round- 
head prisoner.  The  man  was  defiant  at  first, 
then  more  communicative  when  Hugh  smuggled 
him  in  some  bread  and  meat,  but,  being  of  a 
Northamptonshire  regiment,  he  could  give  little 
of  the  information  Hugh  sought,  save  that  he 
had  heard  of  Captain  Thomas  Oldesworth  and 
had  had  speech  with  Hugh's  other  uncle,  Lieu- 
tenant David  Millington,  who  was  in  garrison 
with  his  company  of  foot  at  Newick  in  Warwick- 
shire. For  his  Roundhead  kinsfolk's  sake  Hugh 
lent  the  lieutenant  a  coat,  and,  when  Butler,  in  a 
shaky,  white  state  of  sobriety,  packed  him  off 
under  guard  to  prison  at  Oxford,  gave  five  shil- 


*52  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

lings  to  the  corporal  who  had  charge  of  the 
squad,  and  urged  him  to  use  the  prisoner  as 
civilly  as  he  could.  Considering  the  temper  of 
the  squad,  however,  and  the  fact  that  his  old 
acquaintance,  the  surly  Garrett,  was  one  of  them, 
Hugh  decided  those  five  shillings  had  probably 
been  expended  for  nothing. 

Near  a  week  later  the  men  came  back,  and,  in 
his  joy  at  any  new  sight  in  his  monotonous  life, 
Hugh  turned  out  to  meet  them.  He  counted 
them  idly,  as  they  came  pacing  in  at  the  gate,  till 
his  eyes  fell  upon  a  horse  that  Garrett  led,  a  bay 
horse,  all  saddled,  which  put  up  its  head  and 
whickered.  "Bayard!"  Hugh  cried,  plunging 
into  the  press,  and,  getting  the  horse  clear,  fair 
put  his  arms  about  its  neck  in  the  face  of  the 
whole  garrison.  "  Where  did  you  find  him  ? " 
he  questioned  Garrett  a  moment  later,  sharply, 
to  preserve  his  dignity. 

The  man  explained  they  had  come  home  by  a 
way  that  took  them  near  Ashcroft,  for  he  held 
there  might  be  letters  Master  Burley  would 
gladly  pay  a  price  for,  and  there  they  had  found 
both  a  letter  and  the  horse,  which  had  been  wait- 
ing him  some  days. 

Hugh  paid  generously,  the  more  so  as  he  saw 
the  letter  was  directed  in  Dick's  black  hand ; 
that  made  the  sending  of  Bayard  no  longer  a 
mystery,  for  doubtless  Dick  would  have  him 
come  northward  now  and  so  had  sent  him  the 
horse.  He  could  hardly  wait  to  see  the  beast 
stabled  before  he  ran  up  to  the  chamber  he 
shared  with  Allestree,  and  tore  open  the  letter 
that  should  summon  him.  Then  he  read :  — 


xv  THE   LIFE  OF  EDMUND   BURLEY  253 

SWEET  FRIEND  : 

It  doth  grieve  me  to  bring  you  aught  of  disappointment,  but 
patience  perforce,  lad.  Sir  W.  hath  need  of  ammunition  and 
of  fieldpieces,  so  he  hath  commissioned  me,  because  of  old 
acquaintance  in  those  parts,  to  go  into  the  Low  Countries  and 
see  what  may  be  procured.  I  would  I  could  take  you  with 
me,  but  my  time  is  short,  for  the  ship  only  waits  a  prosperous 
wind.  When  my  task  yonder  is  done  I  shall  come  quietly  to 
the  place  you  know  of  to  confer  with  Sir  W.  I  will  convey 
you  a  word,  and  if  you  will  join  me  there  we  will  try  another 
bout  with  Fortune  together.  Till  then  you  were  best  keep 
yourself  close.  There  is  a  rumor  that  the  lord  you  know  of 
hath  no  such  big  voice  in  the  king's  counsels  as  he  used.  Time, 
then,  and  patience  may  bring  all  right  with  us.  Commend  me 
to  good  Mistress  Flemyng,  and  be  assured  at  longest  I  shall 
send  for  you  ere  the  end  of  summer. 

Your  very  loving  friend, 

HENRY  RAMSDEN. 

NEWCASTLE,  May  2oth,  1643. 

That  night  Hugh  ate  no  supper.  Sitting  on 
the  broad  window-bench  he  watched  the  sunlight 
wane  upon  the  floor,  and  the  twilight  fill  in  the 
chamber,  and  from  time  to  time,  till  it  was  quite 
dark,  he  re-read  the  letter.  In  those  hours  he 
came  to  realize  how  much  he  had  lived  on  the 
expectation  that  any  day  Dick  might  call  for 
him,  and  he  sickened  at  the  thought  of  the  dull, 
hateful  days  of  inactivity  before  him,  for  now  he 
must  school  himself  to  endure  the  long  three 
months  of  summer  with  Butler's  crew.  Below 
he  could  hear  the  officers  singing  over  their 
wine,  and,  fearing  lest  Allestree  might  come  half- 
drunk  to  urge  him  to  the  table  and  jeer  at  his 
sorry  silence,  he  slipped  out  by  the  back  way  to 
the  stable,  where  till  bedtime  he  tried  to  find 
some  comfort  in  petting  Bayard. 


254  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Next  day  life  was  running  its  old  round,  save 
that  the  hope  which  before  had  made  it  tolerable 
was  gone.  That  week  Hugh  discontinued  fenc- 
ing ;  the  weather  was  over-hot,  and  besides,  what 
use  to  drill  himself  for  action,  when  Dick  had  no 
need  of  him,  and  his  present  companions  were 
content  to  idle  ?  Instead  of  using  the  rapier,  he 
set  himself  to  watching  Allestree  and  Mahone 
at  dice,  and  at  length  came  to  take  a  hand  him- 
self. It  was  an  ill  memory  to  him  afterward, 
those  feverish  summer  mornings  when,  sitting  in 
their  shirt-sleeves,  they  threw  and  threw,  sometimes 
with  high  words  and  oaths,  sometimes  in  silence, 
save  for  Allestree's  half-laugh  when  he  made  a 
winning  cast.  Fortune  varied,  but  in  time  there 
came  a  day  when  Hugh  got  up  from  the  table, 
and,  thrusting  his  hands  into  two  empty  pockets, 
slouched  off  with  his  head  down.  He  heard 
Allestree  say,  "  I  hate  a  fellow  who  loses  with  ill 
grace,"  and  Mahone  call,  "  Hi,  Ed  !  Come  back. 
Don't  give  over,  man,  as  long  as  you've  a  shirt 
to  stake.  Put  up  your  horse  now." 

But  Hugh  shook  his  head.  Though  he  had 
diced  away  every  penny  he  possessed,  and  with 
it  every  hope  of  setting  out  by  himself  to  seek 
other  harborage  than  Woodstead,  he  would  not 
risk  his  horse  and  sword.  Not  twenty-four  hours 
later  he  had  cause  to  rejoice  at  having  kept  his 
equipments,  for  at  the  mess  table  Butler  an- 
nounced briskly  that  next  day  the  troop  would 
ride  a-foraying  into  Northamptonshire,  to  a  little 
village  called  Northrope,  where  corn  could  be  got 
in  plenty.  "  And  wine  from  a  brave  tavern 
there,"  Allestree  whispered  Hugh;  "Else  the 


xv  THE  LIFE  OF   EDMUND   BURLEY  255 

captain  would  not  be  so  forward  in  this  busi- 
ness." 

But  in  his  joy  at  having  a  hand  in  active  ser- 
vice once  more,  the  end  of  the  expedition  mattered 
nothing  to  Hugh.  Before  noon  next  day  he  had 
his  buff  jacket  on  and  his  sword  slung  over  his 
shoulder,  then  fretted  away  the  long  hours  of 
expectation  by  tramping  about  the  enclosure,  set- 
tling Bayard's  saddle,  and  listening  to  Allestree's 
proffered  bets  on  the  success  of  the  night's  work. 
The  sun  had  set  behind  the  low  green  hills,  when 
at  last  Butler  led  half  his  troop  forth  from  Wood- 
stead,  with  Allestree  to  keep  the  rear  and  Mahone 
and  Hugh  to  put  themselves  wherever  they  were 
bid.  In  spite  of  the  gathering  twilight  the  air 
was  still  heavy  with  the  sweltering  heat  of  the 
day,  and  the  dust  that  was  beaten  up  by  the  feet 
of  the  horses  prickled  and  stung.  Before  the 
first  mile  was  out  Hugh  had  flung  open  his  coat, 
and  was  more  disturbed  at  Bayard's  sweating 
than  at  the  thought  of  the  skirmish  that  was 
to  come. 

The  night  air  was  cooler  and  the  stars  were 
out  thick,  when  at  length  the  word  ran  through 
the  line  that  Northrope  lay  over  the  next  swell 
in  the  plain.  Falling  in  with  the  squadron 
behind  Butler,  who  was  to  sweep  around  and 
attack  the  village  from  the  east  while  Allestree 
rode  in  at  the  west  side,  Hugh  drew  away  noise- 
lessly from  the  rest  of  the  troop,  and  at  a  swift 
canter  passed  through  a  field  into  a  piece  of 
spicy-smelling  woodland.  Beyond  that  they  rode 
softly  along  a  stretch  of  sandy  road,  and  at  last 
halted  upon  the  brow  of  a  hill,  beneath  which 


256  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

the  dark  roofs  of  cottages  could  be  seen.  At  a 
whispered  command  from  Butler  Hugh  ranged 
himself  among  the  corporal's  guard  who  were  to 
keep  the  hill  and  stop  whoever  fled  that  way, 
while  the  rest  of  the  dragoons  fell  into  place 
behind  the  captain.  Then  the  leader  turned  to 
a  trooper,  who,  swinging  his  dragon  to  his  shoul- 
der, fired  into  the  air.  An  instant,  and  far  to  the 
west  another  shot  replied,  Butler  shouted  to 
charge,  and  with  his  men  at  his  heels  galloped 
away  down  the  hill. 

Below  in  the  village  Hugh  heard  the  sound 
of  clattering  hoofs,  of  shouts  of  attack,  and  shriller 
cries.  A  moment  later,  and,  as  he  gazed,  he  saw 
over  to  the  west  a  reddish  gleam  that  broad- 
ened and  brightened.  "  They've  fired  the  vil- 
lage," muttered  one  trooper,  and  the  rest  grumbled 
subduedly  that  all  within  the  scurvy  place  would 
be  burned  ere  they  came  to  share  the  plunder. 

The  moments  ran  on,  while  the  fire  rose  and 
sunk  again,  till  Hugh  judged  the  night  more  than 
half  spent.  Still  none  had  fled  in  their  direction ; 
the  men  were  restless  at  their  useless  stay,  and 
Hugh  himself  had  grown  to  hate  this  waiting, 
for  it  left  him  time  to  reflect,  and  to  compare  this 
raid  with  the  daylight  fighting  he  had  had  under 
Turner.  For  all  the  ugly  sights  of  plunder  to  be 
seen  he  felt  it  a  relief  when  the  corporal  gave  the 
word  to  descend  into  the  village,  and  gladly  as 
the  rest  he  trotted  forward. 

Once  in  among  the  houses  his  comrades  scat- 
tered to  plunder,  but  Hugh,  left  alone,  rode  on 
down  the  street,  which  grew  lighter  with  the  flare 
of  the  burning  houses.  He  had  sight  of  house- 


xv  THE   LIFE   OF   EDMUND   BURLEY  257 

hold  stuff  that  littered  the  roadway;  in  the  lee 
of  a  wall  he  saw  a  man  sitting  with  his  hand 
pressed  to  his  breast;  and  down  toward  the 
blaze,  where  was  a  great  yelling  and  confusion, 
he  made  out  against  the  glare  the  black  shapes 
of  men  running  to  and  fro.  He  saw,  too,  nearer 
at  hand,  a  flapping  sign-board  before  what  seemed 
an  inn,  where  a  noisy  crew  had  possession,  and 
he  halted  a  moment,  while  he  wondered  grimly 
if  Butler  were  not  there  and  if  he  should  report 
to  him.  As  he  hesitated  he  heard  some  one 
shout  from  an  upper  window  of  the  cottage  on 
his  right,  and  he  let  his  eyes  travel  thither.  The 
place  looked  dark  and  blank,  but  as  he  gazed  the 
door  was  kicked  open  and  a  man  came  forth,  hold- 
ing by  the  arm  a  girl,  who  dragged  back  with  all 
her  slender  strength.  "  What  devil's  trade  are 
you  about?"  Hugh  called  angrily.  "  Bring  the 
wench  hither." 

The  man  hesitated,  then  unwillingly  slouched 
nearer.  As  the  firelight  flared  along  the  street 
Hugh  saw  it  was  his  old  enemy,  the  cross-eyed 
trooper;  then  his  gaze  dropped  lower  to  the 
pallid  face  of  the  girl.  At  that  Hugh  sprang 
from  his  saddle  with  a  cry,  "  Lois,  Lois ! " 


CHAPTER   XVI 

ROUNDHEADS    AND   CAVALIERS 

HE  had  thrust  the  trooper  aside  and  drawn  the 
girl  close  to  him.  "  Sure,  you  do  not  fear  me, 
Lois  ? "  he  urged,  for  she  stood  with  her  hands  to 
her  face  and  her  body  braced  tensely  against  the 
pressure  of  his  arm.  "  I'm  Hugh  Gwyeth.  You've 
not  forgot  —  " 

At  that  she  uncovered  her  face  and  stared  at 
him  with  so  piteous  a  look  of  fright  that  Hugh 
hated  himself  and  all  who  had  had  a  share  in 
that  night's  work.  "  Be  off  with  you."  He  swung 
round  upon  the  cross-eyed  trooper  with  some  of 
Allestree's  favorite  oaths.  "  The  gentlewoman  is 
kin  to  me.  Get  you  hence  and  be  thankful  I  let 
you  go  with  a  whole  skin." 

Then  he  looked  again  to  Lois,  and,  noting  now 
that  she  had  no  outer  covering  upon  her  shoul- 
ders, unstrapped  his  cloak  from  the  front  of  his 
saddle  and  wrapped  it  about  her,  drawing  the 
folds  up  to  hide  her  face  somewhat.  He  felt  her 
hands  clutch  tremulously  at  his  wrist,  and  her 
voice  broke  into  a  choking  sob :  "  O,  Hugh ! 
In  sober  truth,  'tis  you  ?  You  will  take  care  of 
me?" 

"  To  be  sure  I  will,"  he  said,  and,  slipping 

258 


CH.  xvi        ROUNDHEADS  AND  CAVALIERS  259 

Bayard's  bridle  over  one  arm,  put  the  other  about 
the  girl.  "  Just  come  with  me  now." 

They  walked  toward  where  the  cottages  were 
burning,  slowly,  for  Lois  staggered  as  she  went, 
and  Hugh,  for  all  his  brave  speech,  was  dazed 
with  the  necessity  of  thinking  what  he  was  to  do 
for  her  protection.  Woodstead  was  no  place  to 
which  to  fetch  a  girl,  nor  was  any  other  harbor 
open  to  him.  He  halted  short  in  his  perplexity, 
then  turned  to  her  with  a  sudden  idea :  "  Look 
you  here,  Lois ;  would  you  wish  me  to  convey 
you  unto  Newick,  to  Lieutenant  Mtllington  ? " 

"  'Tis  thither  I  was  going,"  she  answered 
faintly. 

"  Well,  you  shall  be  safe  there  ere  to-morrow 
noon,"  he  assured  her.  "  Just  a  little  time  here, 
and  be  not  afraid." 

Thereupon  he  faced  across  the  street  to  the 
house  with  the  sign-board,  where  he  guessed 
might  be  wine  and  Captain  Butler.  Within  were 
lights  and  men  stamping  to  and  fro,  while  with- 
out at  the  entrance  door  lingered  others,  among 
whom  Hugh  caught  sight  of  Garrett,  still  sober, 
and  seized  on  him.  "  I  want  your  help,"  he  said 
brusquely;  "  I'll  pay  you  for  it  ere  I  die.  Procure 
some  sort  of  white  flag,  and  find  me  out  a  pillion 
for  this  gentlewoman.  Put  it  on  my  horse  and 
be  ready  to  ride  with  me  when  I  bid." 

Leaving  the  man  with  mouth  and  eyes  open  in 
astonishment,  he  led  Lois  into  the  tavern.  Across 
the  corridor  a  trooper  was  sprawling,  drunk, 
Hugh  saw,  as  he  thrust  him  aside  with  his  foot 
to  give  the  girl  passage.  Inside  the  common 
room  the  floor  crackled  with  broken  glass,  on  the 


26o  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

chimney-piece  two  candles  sputtered  unevenly, 
and  by  the  table,  a  bottle  in  one  hand,  a  great 
mug  in  the  other,  stood  Butler.  Hugh  felt  Lois 
press  closer  to  him,  but  he  resolutely  left  her  on 
a  settle  by  the  wall  and  went  up  to  the  captain. 
"  I  pray  you,  sir,  give  me  a  safe-conduct  to  pass 
through  the  lines  with  one  of  your  dragoons,"  he 
blurted  out  his  business. 

Butler  cursed  him  roundly,  and  Hugh,  standing 
stiffly,  heard  him  out  without  reply,  while  in  his 
heart  he  prayed  the  ugly  fit  of  drunkenness  might 
speedily  give  place  to  the  maudlin  fit.  A  heavy 
stamping  made  him  turn  in  sudden  hope  as 
Allestree  reeled  in  from  superintending  the  seiz- 
ure of  the  tavern  stores.  But  one  look  at  the 
guidon  told  Hugh  he  was  too  far  gone  to  aid  him 
now,  so  he  could  only  fall  back  beside  Lois,  and, 
taking  hold  of  her  hand,  bid  her  wait  a  little 
longer  and  not  fear. 

Presently,  after  Allestree  had  pitched  into  a 
chair  with  his  head  on  the  table,  Hugh  once 
more  made  his  request  to  Butler,  and  once  more 
was  gruffly  refused.  But  then,  chancing  to  spy 
ink  and  paper  on  a  shelf,  he  blotted  off  a  safe-con- 
duct, and,  again  presenting  himself  to  the  captain, 
begged  him  sign.  There  were  refusals  of  varying 
sternness,  but  with  all  the  obstinacy  of  his  square 
chin  Hugh  followed  the  man  up  and  down  the 
chamber,  pen  in  hand,  and,  holding  his  temper 
well  in  check  for  the  girl's  sake,  bore  the  other's 
abuse  and  only  prayed  him  sign.  At  last  Butler, 
snatching  the  pen  from  his  hand,  splashed  a  great 
signature  across  the  sheet.  "  Take  it,  in  the  devil's 
name,  you  hell  babe ! "  he  cursed. 


xvi  ROUNDHEADS  AND  CAVALIERS  261 

Hugh  thrust  the  paper  inside  his  coat,  and, 
running  to  Lois,  jostled  a  way  for  her  out  to  the 
open  air.  By  the  tavern  door  Garrett,  holding  a 
pike  with  a  white  napkin  bound  to  it,  was  sitting 
his  horse,  and  by  him  stood  Bayard  with  a  cushion 
fixed  behind  the  saddle.  Hugh  helped  Lois  to 
her  place,  then,  leaping  up  before  her,  rode  briskly 
out  from  the  village. 

Not  till  the  sight  of  the  fire  and  the  noise  of 
the  shouts  of  the  plunderers  were  quite  lost  to 
them  did  Hugh  let  Bayard's  eager  trot  subside 
to  an  amble.  He  turned  a  little  to  ask  Lois  how 
she  fared,  and  bid  her  keep  the  cloak  close  about 
her  against  the  damp  of  the  early  morning ;  then 
he  calle.d  to  Garrett,  and,  in  talking  with  him  of 
the  road  they  must  take  for  Newick,  time  enough 
passed  for  the  stars  to  grow  few  in  the  sky. 
After  that  they  rode  a  long  space  in  silence,  save 
for  the  soft  scuff  of  the  horses  now  and  again 
as  they  came  upon  a  stretch  of  sandy  road.  The 
sky  grew  a  fainter  dun  color,  and  in  the  east  a 
slit  of  pale  light  showed,  while  in  the  west  a  white 
shred  of  moon  yet  lingered  on  the  horizon  line. 
The  morning  breeze,  coming  damp  on  Hugh's 
face,  made  him  heavy  with  desire  to  sleep ;  only 
at  a  splashing  sound  of  water  did  he  rouse  up 
with  a  jerk  to  find  Bayard  knee-deep  in  a  ford 
and  drinking  greedily.  To  right  and  left  the 
bushes  above  the  stream  were  dusky,  but  flecks 
of  lighter  gray  showed  in  the  water  where  the 
road  ran  down  to  meet  it.  "  'Twill  be  sunrise 
soon,"  Hugh  said,  and  shook  himself  awake. 

"  Think  you,  presently,  I  might  have  a  drink  of 
water  ?  "  Lois  asked  hesitatingly. 


262  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

"  Why,  here  and  now  you  shall  have  it ! "  he 
cried,  and,  flinging  his  bridle  to  Garrett,  lifted 
Lois  from  her  place  and  led  her  a  little  up- 
stream within  the  shadow  of  the  bushes. 

As  she  knelt  on  the  brink  and  drank  slowly 
from  her  hand,  Hugh  had  space  to  note  how 
white  her  face  was  and  how  weary  her  every 
gesture.  So  when  she  rose  he  drew  her  back  a 
little  to  the  roots  of  an  oak  tree,  where  he  bade 
her  sit  and  rest  a  time.  Garrett  shrugged  his 
shoulders,  when  the  word  was  passed  to  him, 
then  tied  the  horses  and  went  to  stretch  himself 
on  the  bank  farther  down-stream.  Hugh  re- 
turned to  Lois,  and,  seating  himself  beside  her, 
persuaded  her  to  lean  against  him,  till  her  eyes 
closed  and  he  hoped  that  she  might  sleep.  He 
sat  very  still  and  looked  sometimes  at  her  brown 
head  against  his  shoulder,  and  sometimes  at  the 
branches  of  the  oak  above  him  and  the  clear  sky 
beyond  that  was  growing  brighter  and  taking  on 
a  bluish  tinge.  He  listened  to  the  hurry  of  the 
brook  and  the  restless  stamp  of  the  horses ;  then, 
shutting  his  eyes,  he  seemed  only  to  see  Evers- 
combe  manor  house  and  the  sunlight  upon  the 
eastern  terrace. 

"  Are  you  asleep,  too  ?  "  The  words  were 
spoken  softly,  but  they  startled  him  through  all 
his  body. 

"  I  am  awake  now,  in  any  case,"  he  replied,  and 
laughed  a  little  with  a  foolish  sort  of  satisfac- 
tion as  he  looked  down  at  Lois.  For  the  tense 
look  of  the  night  before  had  left  her  eyes,  and 
she  had  again  the  face  of  his  old  comrade  at 
Everscombe. 


xvi  ROUNDHEADS  AND  CAVALIERS  263 

"  Your  poor  arm  will  sleep  next,  Hugh.  I  am 
leaning  too  heavily  against  it." 

"  I  had  not  felt  it,  —  if  you  are  content." 

Lois  smiled  slightly  and  tremulously,  then,  slip- 
ping out  one  hand,  drew  her  fingers  through  the 
wet  grass.  "  There  has  been  a  heavy  dew,"  she 
said  irrelevantly,  "  and  it  has  soaked  my  shoes, — 
my  shoe,  I  mean."  She  let  her  feet  just  show 
beneath  her  petticoat,  and  Hugh  had  sight  of  one 
stout  shoe  and  the  toe  of  a  small  gray  stocking. 

"  You've  been  tramping  with  one  foot  half 
bare  ?  "  he  broke  out. 

"  Nay,  nay,  I  have  been  riding.  I  knew  it  not 
till  this  morning,  so  I  did  not  mind.  I  must  have 
left  that  other  shoe  in  the  closet  where  I  hid 
away." 

"  Tell  me,  Lois,  how  came  you  there  at  North- 
rope  ?  "  he  asked,  after  an  instant. 

The  girl's  face  lost  its  flash  of  gayety.  "  Why, 
'tis  only  —  "  she  began,  and,  pulling  some  blades 
of  grass,  twisted  them  between  her  fingers  with- 
out looking  at  him.  "  Last  October  'twas,  Aunt 
Delia  said  perchance  I  were  best  now  go  visit  my 
mother's  kinsfolk  in  Northamptonshire.  And 
last  week  they  said  I  had  best  visit  her  again. 
O  me,  I  know  not  why  they  will  not  have  me  !  I 
do  not  eat  so  much,  Hugh,  and  I  am  ready  to  be 
of  service."  She  pushed  aside  his  arm  and  leaned 
forward  with  her  head  upon  her  knee ;  by  the 
movement  of  her  shoulders  he  knew  that  she  was 
crying. 

He  realized  well  why  she  wept,  and  he  knew, 
too,  there  was  no  help  that  he  could  offer ;  so  he 
only  bent  forward,  and,  speaking  her  name  gently, 


264  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

patted  her  shoulder.  He  heard  her  swallow  a 
sob,  then,  with  her  head  still  bowed,  she  went  on 
defiantly,  "  So  there  is  nothing  to  tell,  Hugh. 
A  neighbor  was  riding  to  Northrope  for  the  day, 
so  they  sent  me  with  him  and  he  left  me  at  that 
cottage.  They  thought  perhaps  some  carrier 
might  be  going  to  Newick,  and  would  convey  me 
thither ;  then  Lieutenant  Millington  would  find 
means  to  despatch  me  to  Everscombe.  That  is 
all." 

Hugh  bit  his  nails  and  made  no  reply.  If  his 
own  father  rejected  him,  how  could  he  reproach 
the  uncles  and  aunts  who  grudged  shelter  to  an 
orphan  girl  ?  Only  she  was  a  girl  and  weak,  and 
somehow  they  seemed  worse  than  Alan  Gwyeth. 
He  fell  back  on  his  stock  piece  of  comfort:  "  You 
should  ha'  been  a  boy,  Lois,  and  then  it  had  all 
been  easy." 

"  But  I  have  no  wish  to  be  a  boy,"  Lois  said 
sorrowfully,  as  she  turned  away  her  face  to  wipe 
her  eyes. 

"  Perhaps  'twould  not  be  so  pleasant,"  Hugh 
admitted,  and  added,  with  a  thought  of  Frank, 
"  Young  boys  are  sometimes  vexatious." 

Lois  gave  a  laugh  that  was  a  bit  hysterical. 
"  You  have  grown  very  arrogant.  Prithee,  now, 
tell  me  all  about  yourself  and  how  you  got  that 
sorry  scar." 

Hugh  hesitated,  to  collect  himself,  then  set 
forth  at  great  length  what  pertained  to  Strang- 
wayes,  and  very  hastily  told  her  that  his  father 
had  disowned  him.  At  that  her  face  grew  so 
grave  he  hurried  back  to  Strangwayes  again,  and 
forbore  to  tell  her  of  the  duel.  So  they  talked  on 


xvi  ROUNDHEADS  AND   CAVALIERS  265 

till  a  shaft  of  sunlight  dazzled  upon  the  brook,  and 
the  trees  cast  clean  dark  shadows  on  the  path- 
way. "  We  must  ride  for  Newick,"  said  Hugh, 
jumping  to  his  feet.  "  You're  not  so  weary,  Lois  ? 
Wait  till  the  next  village  and  you  shall  have  wine 
to  hearten  you.  Perchance  you  could  eat,  too  ?  " 

"  Perchance,  if  'twere  offered,"  Lois  replied 
demurely,  as  she  smoothed  her  hair  with  her 
hands. 

"  It  shall  be  looked  to,  I  promise  you,"  he  an- 
swered gayly,  and  walked  away.  Before  he  had 
gone  ten  paces,  however,  his  gayety  was  at  an 
end,  for  he  tucked  his  hands  into  a  brace  of  bare 
pockets.  He  fidgeted  a  moment  by  the  horses ; 
then,  taking  his  only  course,  walked  over  to  the 
surly  trooper.  "  Garrett,"  he  began,  in  a  low  tone, 
"  have  you  money  about  you  ?  " 

"  Ay,  sir." 

"  Will  you  lend  unto  me  ? " 

"  You  swore  the  giving  should  lie  all  on  your 
side,"  the  other  answered  suspiciously. 

"  I  tell  you  I'll  pay,"  Hugh  said  angrily ;  and, 
seizing  on  the  two  shillings  the  other  reluctantly 
proffered,  walked  away  with  his  face  burning. 

It  had  been  a  petty  incident,  but  the  ill  taste  of 
it  lingered  with  him,  and  took  all  pleasure  from 
the  getting  to  horse  once  more.  Even  the  sight 
of  Lois's  half-smiling  face,  and  her  droll  efforts 
to  spare  her  stockinged  foot,  could  not  restore 
him  to  his  old  contented  mood.  He  led  her  in 
silence  to  where  Bayard  stood,  and  there  she 
halted  suddenly  with  eyes  upon  the  horse.  "  Why, 
'tis  indeed  the  same,"  she  cried.  "  Tis  Peregrine's 
steed  they  said  you  —  " 


266  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

"Stole?"  Hugh  asked  sharply.  "Ay,  'tis  the 
same." 

Then  he  lifted  her  to  her  place,  and  without  a 
word  more  set  forward. 

An  hour  later,  in  the  full  heat  of  the  morning 
sun,  they  rode  into  a  little  hamlet,  where  the  peo- 
ple stared  at  the  Royalist  red  sashes,  and  shouted 
saucy  comments  on  the  strangers.  Hugh  made 
his  way  scowlingly  to  the  village  inn,  and,  helping 
Lois  dismount,  led  her  into  the  common  room, 
where  he  called  on  the  hostess  to  bring  wine  and 
white  bread  for  the  girl.  "  Are  you  going  with 
these  ruffians  of  your  own  will,  sweetheart  ? "  he 
heard  the  good  woman  whisper  Lois. 

He  was  turning  away  impatiently,  when,  just  at 
the  door,  he  ran  upon  the  tapster.  "  Draw  two 
mugs  of  ale  for  my  man  and  me,"  he  ordered 
curtly. 

"Will  I,  sir?  Who's  to  pay?"  retorted  the 
other.  "  An  you  pay,  'twill  be  the  first  of  your 
color—" 

"  Will  you  talk  ? "  Hugh  cried,  with  an  oath ; 
and  struck  the  fellow  so  he  staggered.  "  Fetch 
what  I  bid  now,"  he  swore.  Then  he  turned  to 
go  back  into  the  common  room ;  and  there  Lois 
sat,  not  eating,  but  gazing  at  him  with  blank,  dis- 
mayed face. 

Without  staying  to  drink  his  ale,  Hugh  went 
out  and  loitered  at  Bayard's  head,  where  he  kicked 
up  spiteful  little  spurts  of  dust  and  would  not 
stroke  the  horse.  When  Lois  hobbled  out  at 
last  in  a  pair  of  over-large  shoes,  he  helped  her 
to  mount ;  she  did  not  speak,  and  he  only  looked 
sharply  at  her,  but  said  nothing.  As  the  roofs  of 


xvi  ROUNDHEADS  AND   CAVALIERS  267 

the  village  sank  behind  the  hill  in  their  rear,  how- 
ever, he  turned  in  the  saddle  and  addressed  her 
almost  roughly,  "  So  you  are  not  pleased  with 
me  ? " 

"Sure,  Hugh,  I  must  be  pleased;  you  have 
used  me  so  kindly  — " 

"  That's  a  right  woman's  trick  to  bungle  at  a 
plain  '  no,' "  he  said,  with  a  curt  laugh ;  then 
started,  for  tone  and  laugh  sounded  to  him  as 
an  echo  of  Allestree,  whom  he  had  left  drunk  at 
Northrope.  Putting  spurs  to  Bayard,  he  pressed 
on  at  a  reckless  pace,  so  the  dust  rose  thick  and 
white,  and  turned  his  throat  dry,  and  sifted  in 
between  his  collar  and  his  neck.  He  was  hot 
and  weary  and  wretchedly  angry  against  all  the 
world,  especially  against  Lois  Campion,  why,  he 
could  not  tell  himself. 

In  such  a  mood  he  cantered  into  the  shadow  of 
the  first  of  a  straggling  line  of  cottages,  where  a 
sentinel  in  a  yellow  sash,  springing  to  the  mid- 
dle of  the  road,  bade  him  pull  up.  "  Conduct  me 
to  Lieutenant  Millington,"  Hugh  ordered,  show- 
ing his  safe-conduct ;  so  in  a  few  moments  he  was 
riding  down  the  street  at  an  easy  pace,  with  a 
Roundhead  corporal  walking  at  his  bridle. 

They  drew  up  without  the  gate  of  a  large,  half- 
timbered  house,  which  set  back  from  the  road  in 
a  garden  of  red  roses  that  dazzled  drearily  before 
Hugh's  eyes.  "  If  you  will  accept  of  my  aid  —  " 
he  said  brusquely  to  Lois,  and  had  just  swung 
her  down  from  the  horse's  back,  when  he  heard 
the  gate  clatter  open  behind  him.  He  turned 
about,  and  came  face  to  face  with  Peregrine 
Oldesworth. 


268  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

For  an  instant  they  confronted  each  other  with- 
out speaking,  time  enough  for  Hugh  to  take  note 
that  his  cousin  wore  a  pompous  great  pair  of 
boots  and  a  long  sword,  and  had  grown  a  scrap 
of  dark  mustache  that  made  him  look  older  than 
his  years.  Then  said  Peregrine,  "  Well,  have 
you  come  to  fetch  back  that  stolen  horse,  Master 
Thief?" 

"  The  horse  is  best  off  with  him  who  has  the 
wit  to  keep  him,"  Hugh  replied  quickly.  "  Be 
assured  I  had  not  come  to  you  beneath  a  white 
flag,  if  it  had  not  been  to  bring  Lois  hither." 

"  And  a  brave  convoy  you  have  had,  Cousin 
Lois,"  Peregrine  said,  with  a  dull  flush  on  his 
face.  "  The  next  time  you  must  roam  the  coun- 
try-side, pray  you,  seek  another  protector  than  a 
scape-gallows  like  this." 

"  You  know  well,  Cornet  Oldesworth,"  Hugh 
retorted,  "  that  I  would  pay  it  back  to  you,  if  you 
durst  put  that  term  to  me  in  any  other  place." 

"  So  you'd  like  to  murder  me  as  you  murdered 
Bellasis?" 

"  Murdered !  What  do  you  mean  ? "  The 
words  came  faintly  from  Lois,  and  to  Hugh's 
fancy  she  seemed  to  draw  a  little  from  him. 

"  Maybe  he  will  set  it  forth  to  you  himself," 
sneered  Peregrine. 

"  I  killed  a  man  in  a  fair  duel,"  Hugh  replied 
shortly.  "  I  leave  you  to  your  cousin's  care, 
Lois."  With  that  he  seized  Bayard's  bridle  and 
turned  away,  he  cared  not  whither,  only  he  did 
not  wish  to  see  the  horror  in  Lois's  eyes. 

"  Perhaps  you'll  give  your  horse  a  rest  here  at 
the  stable,  sir  ? "  the  Roundhead  corporal  at  his 


xvi  ROUNDHEADS  AND   CAVALIERS  269 

elbow  suggested  civilly.  Hugh  slouched  down 
the  road  after  him,  and  scarcely  heeded  Garrett 
beside  him,  chuckling,  "  Well,  sir,  I  knew  from 
the  start  you  were  Master  Gwyeth." 

"  Now  you're  sure  of  it,  you'd  best  carry  the 
news  to  Oxford,"  Hugh  replied;  "I  cannot  buy 
silence." 

After  they  were  into  the  cool  of  the  black 
stable  and  he  had  seen  Bayard  cared  for,  he  sat 
down  on  a  truss  of  straw  and  stared  at  the  motes 
that  swam  in  the  sunlight  by  the  open  door. 
His  eyes  ached  with  the  light  and  the  dust,  and 
his  throat  was  all  choked ;  he  crushed  the  straws 
between  his  fingers  as  he  sat,  and  in  this  destruc- 
tion found  his  only  ease. 

He  roused  up  as  a  petty  officer  entered  the 
stable,  who  prayed  him,  from  Lieutenant  Mill- 
ington,  to  come  back  to  the  house  and  dine  with 
the  officers  of  the  company.  Hugh  hesitated  a 
moment,  then  came,  rather  sullen  and  defiant, 
and  after  washing  the  dust  from  his  face  entered 
the  dining  room.  Millington,  a  heavy,  slow  man 
of  near  forty,  greeted  him  courteously,  and  pre- 
sented him  to  his  brother  officers,  who  were  dis- 
tant and  suspicious.  "  You  are  of  Woodstead, 
are  you  not,  sir  ? "  one  asked  him,  with  an  im- 
plication that  made  Hugh  guess  the  other  held 
him  to  have  come  from  a  den  of  all  iniquities. 

Then  they  conversed  of  matters  that  concerned 
them,  while  Hugh  swallowed  his  dinner  in  silence, 
with  an  occasional  pause  to  stare  defiantly  at  Pere- 
grine, who  scowled  at  him  from  the  opposite 
corner  of  the  table.  It  was  a  relief  when  the 
meal  was  ended  and  he  could  rise,  bent  on  set- 


270  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

ting  out  from  the  place  at  once ;  but  Millington 
bade  him  step  apart  with  him  into  an  empty  par- 
lor. "  'Tis  an  ill  report  we  have  had  of  you  this 
winter,  Hugh  Gwyeth,"  he  began  judicially,  as 
he  seated  himself  by  the  open  window ;  "  can  you 
give  me  nothing  better  to  bear  to  Everscombe  ?  " 

Hugh  stood  erect,  with  a  feeling  that  he  was  a 
culprit  brought  to  sentence,  and  replied  that  he 
had  only  slain  a  man  in  a  fair  fight,  and  he  held 
that  no  wrong. 

"  Perhaps  not ; "  Millington  waived  the  ques- 
tion ;  "  but  I  tell  you,  nephew,  'tis  not  the  part  of 
an  honest  gentleman  to  be  herding  with  such 
drunken  libertines  and  cowardly  bullies  as  those 
that  hold  Woodstead." 

"  Mayhap  'tis  not  the  company  I  would  keep 
of  my  own  will,"  Hugh  admitted,  "  though  they 
have  been  kind  to  me.  But  'tis  best  I  lie  close 
just  now." 

"  If  you  have  done  no  wrong  why  need  you 
hide  yourself  ? "  Millington  retorted,  with  a  flicker 
of  a  triumphant  smile. 

"  Have  me  a  murderer  and  a  thief,  if  you  will," 
Hugh  flung  back. 

"  Nay,  'tis  that  I  held  you  a  lad  of  good  parts, 
in  spite  of  your  running  after  these  strange 
gods.  That  you  have  dealt  so  courteously  by 
little  Mistress  Campion  shows  you  are  not  all  lost 
yet.  But  take  heed  to  the  associates  you  keep." 

Hugh  felt  a  guilty  hotness  in  his  face,  but, 
bracing  himself,  he  listened  with  respect  to  all 
his  uncle  had  to  say  farther  in  the  same  strain, 
and,  when  he  had  done,  he  replied  honestly,  "  I 
thank  you,  sir;  methinks  you  mean  all  kindly." 


xvi  ROUNDHEADS  AND  CAVALIERS  271 

So  he  took  his  leave,  and  turned  away  to  sum- 
mon Garrett ;  then  remembered,  and  with  a  down- 
cast look  hesitated  back  to  Millington.  "  An't 
like  you,  uncle,"  he  faltered,  "  I  am  ashamed  to 
ask  it,  but  I  have  had  to  borrow  money  to  pro- 
vide for  Lois,  and  I  promised  this  fellow  of  mine 
reward  for  aiding  me.  And  I  have  no  money." 

"  Eh  ?     How  do  you  live,  then,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  had  some.  I  lost  it  at  dice,"  Hugh  ad- 
mitted shamefacedly.  "  On  my  honor,  I  never 
will  again." 

There  was  an  instant's  pause,  then  Millington 
said  more  coldly,  "  I'll  pay  the  man,"  and  led  the 
way  from  the  house.  Hugh,  following  behind 
like  a  chidden  child,  saw  his  uncle  go  to  Garrett, 
who  waited  with  the  horses  just  outside  the  gate, 
and  saw  him  fee  the  trooper ;  by  the  man's  face 
he  guessed  it  was  done  liberally,  but  he  knew 
the  fact  that  the  money  came  from  another's 
hand  must  always  lower  him  in  the  fellow's 
eyes. 

Dreading  to  meet  the  trooper's  curious  look, 
he  was  lingering  an  instant  on  the  garden  walk, 
feigning  to  adjust  his  boot-tops,  when  he  heard 
behind  him  some  one  call  his  name.  He  would 
not  look  up  till  there  came  a  touch  on  his  arm, 
and  he  must  raise  his  eyes  to  meet  Lois's  gaze. 
"  I  wanted  to  thank  you,  Hugh,"  she  said  gently. 

"  You  need  not." 

"  And  I  wanted  to  ask  your  pardon,  if  I  hurt 
you.  Truly,  I  will  never  believe  you  have  done 
anything  that  is  base,  whatever  they  say.  Prithee, 
forgive  me,  Hugh." 

"  I  should  ask  you  to  forgive  it  that  I  was  so 


272  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

surly,"  he  hesitated.  "And  —  and  next  time  I 
meet  you,  Lois,  I'll  have  mended  my  manners,  so 
you  need  not  be  dismayed.  Farewell  now."  He 
looked  her  frankly  in  the  eyes  as  he  spoke,  then 
bent  a  little  and  kissed  her  hand. 

He  came  out  at  the  gate  more  briskly  than  he 
had  hoped,  and  there,  by  the  horses,  found  Pere- 
grine and  Lieutenant  Millington  in  talk.  "  When 
you  go  back  to  Thomas  Oldesworth  tell  him  from 
me  he  should  have  taught  you  that  a  white  flag 
protects  the  bearer,"  he  heard  Millington  say, 
and  he  noted  Peregrine  had  fixed  covetous  eyes 
on  Bayard.  Indeed,  as  Hugh  swung  into  the 
saddle,  his  cousin  broke  out,  "  You'll  pay  me  for 
that  horse  one  day,  sirrah." 

But  Hugh  deliberately  turned  his  back  upon 
his  bluster,  while  he  bade  his  uncle  a  second 
farewell,  then  waved  his  hat  to  Lois,  who  still 
stood  among  the  roses  in  the  garden,  and  so 
headed  his  horse  away  from  Newick. 

The  shadows  of  the  two  horsemen  showed  long 
in  the  late  afternoon  sun,  and  lengthened  and 
blended  at  last  into  the  gray  of  the  twilight. 
Frogs  piped  to  them  in  the  dusk  as  they  threaded 
their  way  through  a  bit  of  bog  land,  and  after  that 
they  went  a  long  piece  in  silence  under  the  wake- 
ful stars.  Hugh  suffered  Bayard  go  slowly,  while 
he  felt  the  pleasant  night  air  upon  his  face  and 
harked  to  the  hoof-beats,  muffled  by  the  yielding 
road,  till  at  length  a  light  upon  a  distant  hill 
showed  where  Woodstead  lay.  At  that  the  horses 
freshened  their  pace,  and,  with  a  good  flourish, 
they  cantered  in  at  the  gate  of  the  manor  house 
and  pulled  up  at  the  stables. 


xvi  ROUNDHEADS  AND   CAVALIERS  273 

Bayard  once  made  comfortable,  Hugh  went 
slowly  back  to  the  house,  where  he  found  the 
officers,  with  their  coats  off  and  the  table  well 
stored  with  glasses,  loitering  in  the  west  parlor. 

"  So  you're  back,  are  you,  sir  ?  "  Butler  greeted 
him.  "  Well,  now  you've  had  a  safe-conduct  and 
all  at  your  disposal,  is  there  anything  else  you'd 
command  of  me  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  sir,"  Hugh  replied,  as  he  threw  off 
his  buff  coat.  "  I'll  not  need  your  good  offices, 
for — In  short,  sir,  I'm  wearied  of  hiding,  and  I 
want  back  my  own  name  again.  So  'tis  in  my 
mind  to  ride  for  Oxford  to-morrow." 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE    STRANGER    BY   THE   WAY 

"  YOU'VE  a  gray  day  for  a  start  and  a  gallows 
at  the  end,"  Allestree  spoke  encouragingly,  as  he 
lounged  in  the  doorway  of  the  manor  house. 

"  'Twill  be  profitable  to  you,  Master  Gwyeth, 
to  turn  your  thoughts  as  you  go  to  composing 
your  last  good-night,"  Mahone  paused  in  lighting 
his  pipe  to  add  cheerfully. 

Hugh  put  his  attention  to  drawing  on  his 
gauntlets  and  made  no  reply ;  in  the  last  twelve 
hours  there  had  been  threats  and  expostulations 
and  jeers  enough  to  teach  him  that  his  only 
course  was  to  be  silent  and  keep  to  his  deter- 
mination. 

"  I'll  lay  you  five  shillings,  George,  he  loses 
courage  and  sneaks  back  in  time  for  dinner," 
Mahone  resumed. 

The  blood  shot  up  to  Hugh's  face ;  he  knew 
that  was  what  Mahone  wanted,  and  he  was  the 
angrier  that  he  had  gratified  him.  He  turned 
sharp  away  and  fumbled  at  Bayard's  headstall 
till  he  felt  surer  of  his  self-control,  then  asked 
stiffly :  "  Can  you  tell  me  if  the  captain  is  in  the 
west  parlor  ?  I  must  take  my  leave  of  him." 

"  I  don't  begrudge  you  the  task,"  Allestree 
hinted.  "  The  captain  lost  his  temper  at  North- 

274 


CH.XVH       THE  STRANGER  BY  THE  WAY  275 

rope,  because  the  scurvy  little  tavern  was  so  ill 
supplied,  and  he  has  not  found  it  again  yet.  So 
look  to  yourself,  Hugh." 

It  did  not  need  Allestree's  warning  to  bring  the 
heart  down  into  Hugh's  boots ;  the  mere  inhospi- 
tality  of  the  closely  shut  door  of  the  west  parlor 
and  the  grim  tone  in  which  Butler  bade  him  come 
in  were  enough  to  daunt  him.  The  captain  had 
been  writing  ponderously  at  the  table  in  the  centre 
of  the  room,  but  at  Hugh's  coming  he  flung  down 
his  pen,  and,  after  surveying  him  scowlingly,  burst 
out :  "  You're  still  set  in  your  folly,  then  ?  Well, 
for  Dick  Strangwayes'  sake  I'd  fain  have  saved 
you,  in  spite  of  your  cursed  sullen  ways." 

"  I  have  not  meant  to  be  discourteous  to  you, 
Captain  Butler,"  Hugh  protested;  "I  thank  you 
for  sheltering  me  and  saving  me  that  first  time, 
I  do  thank  you  heartily.  But  now  I  think  it 
better  —  " 

"  To  seek  other  company,"  Butler  retorted.  "  If 
you  were  a  bit  older,  I'd  be  angry  with  you,  sir; 
and  if  you  were  a  small  bit  younger,  by  the  Lord, 
I'd  cuff  some  wit  into  you;  as  'tis — Well,  I'll 
shake  hands,  if  you  wish.  On  my  soul,  'tis  pity 
so  decent  a  lad  should  not  have  the  sense  to  keep 
his  head  on  his  shoulders."  Thereupon  he  turned 
his  back,  and,  with  great  show  of  being  occupied, 
fell  to  his  writing,  so  Hugh,  feeling  miserably  re- 
buked, had  no  course  but  to  go  quietly  from  the 
room. 

Perhaps  his  downcast  state  touched  Allestree 
a  little,  for  he  met  him  more  kindly  and  spared 
farther  jests  while  Hugh  was  mounting  Bayard. 
"  Better  go  to  Tamworth  if  you  are  ill  at  ease 


2  76  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

here,"  he  counselled  wisely.  "  But  in  any  case 
God  speed  you  and  protect  you  for  the  sake  of 
the  innocence  of  you." 

At  this  Mahone  went  into  a  fit  of  laughter, 
from  which  he  recovered  only  in  time  to  bawl  a 
farewell  that  reached  Hugh  but  faintly,  as  he  rode 
out  by  the  sentinel  at  the  gate  of  Woodstead. 

Travelling  slowly,  to  spare  Bayard  after  his 
heavy  work  of  the  preceding  day,  he  came  about 
noon  to  a  cross-road,  where  for  a  moment  he 
hesitated :  should  it  be  north  to  seek  Sir  Wil- 
liam's help,  or  south  to  put  himself  into  the  pro- 
vost's hands  and  trust  to  his  own  innocence  of 
ill  intent  to  bring  him  clear  ?  But  he  soon  told 
himself  that,  if  Sir  William  had  had  the  power  to 
aid,  he  would  long  ago  have  helped  Dick  Strang- 
wayes ;  and,  in  any  case,  he  had  no  will  to  live 
longer  in  holes  and  corners,  as  if  he  were  indeed 
the  murderer  Peregrine  had  called  him.  Per- 
haps he  would  find  friends  if  he  went  on  boldly. 
So  he  jogged  southward  at  an  easy  pace,  so  easy, 
indeed,  that  he  gave  up  all  idea  of  reaching  Ox- 
ford that  day.  "  And  we  don't  care  to  lie  in  the 
fields,  Bayard,"  he  talked  softly  to  the  horse. 
"  And  we've  not  a  penny  to  our  names  to  hire 
lodgings.  What  say  you  if  we  swerve  off  to 
Ashcroft  ?  Perhaps  they'll  shelter  us  this  night." 

At  heart  he  knew  they  would,  yet,  remember- 
ing how  carelessly  he  had  departed  thence,  he 
felt  a  little  backward  about  presenting  himself  to 
the  Widow  Flemyng.  His  pace  lagged  more 
and  more  as  he  drew  near  the  farm,  and  he  might 
have  halted  short  to  reconsider,  had  not  the  spat 
of  rain  upon  the  white  roadway  warned  him  to 


xvn  THE  STRANGER  BY  THE  WAY  277 

look  to  the  sky.  There  the  clouds  were  black 
with  storm  and  thunder,  so,  having  no  wish  to 
come  at  last  to  Oxford  all  bedraggled,  he  spurred 
forward  hastily  and  galloped  Bayard  into  Ash- 
croft  stable  just  as  the  rain  began  pelting  down. 

Storm  or  no  storm,  so  soon  as  he  had  delivered 
over  the  horse  to  Ralph's  care,  he  put  his  head 
down  and  ran  for  the  house,  where  he  pitched 
blindly  in  at  the  kitchen  door.  He  heard  a 
shriek  from  Nancy,  "  Preserve  us !  mistress,  'tis 
Master  Burley  come  back,"  and  then  the  widow's 
peremptory  tones :  "  Take  those  boots  off  right 
where  you  stand,  sir,  else  you'll  track  mud  over 
my  new-sanded  floor." 

Hugh  balanced  uneasily  on  one  foot  as  he 
obeyed,  then  asked  meekly  if  he  mightn't  be  per- 
mitted to  sit  down  now  ? 

"  Oh,  at  table,  is  it  ? "  questioned  the  widow, 
bustling  to  the  nearest  cupboard.  "  Hungry  as 
ever,  I  take  it  ?  " 

"  Always,"  Hugh  replied,  and  fetched  a  stool  to 
the  table  against  the  kitchen  wall,  where  he  was 
presently  busy  with  a  cold  capon. 

In  the  midst  the  widow  paused  at  his  side  and 
laid  a  folded  paper  by  his  trencher.  "  'Tis  well 
you  came  hither  now,  Master  Burley,"  she  said. 
"This  was  fetched  from  Tamworth  for  you  by  a 
close-mouthed  trooper  three  days  agone.  I  was 
almost  resolving  me  to  get  upon  the  old  mare 
and  ride  to  seek  you  at  Woodstead.  I  am  no 
chit  of  a  girl  to  fear  those  saucy  knaves." 

Hugh  laughed,  and  with  frank  curiosity  un- 
folded the  paper;  within  were  two  gold  sover- 
eigns, but  not  a  sign  of  writing,  though  he 


278  HUGH  GWYETH  CH, 

turned  the  sheet  over  and  over.  "  What  does 
this  mean  ?  "  he  asked  blankly. 

"  I've  told  all  I  know,"  replied  the  widow.  "  I 
did  my  best  to  learn  more  of  the  fellow  who 
brought  it." 

Hugh  finished  his  dinner  in  silence,  while  he 
turned  over  various  solutions.  Dick  was  out  of 
the  kingdom,  and  in  any  case  he  would  never 
have  sent  the  coins  and  no  word ;  but  Sir  Wil- 
liam had  supplied  them  with  money  while  they 
lay  hid  at  the  "  Sceptre  " ;  or  perhaps  Frank,  with 
his  well-filled  pockets  and  his  boyish  fondness  for 
mystery,  had  had  to  do  with  this.  At  any  rate 
the  money  was  there  in  his  hands  and  made  his 
journey  easier,  so  much  so  that  he  felt,  had  he 
been  superstitious,  he  would  have  hailed  it  as  a 
sign  that  he  was  to  go  on  to  Oxford  as  he  had 
started. 

Yet  when  the  twilight  shut  in,  gray  with  driz- 
zling rain,  there  came  on  him  a  heavy  feeling  of  un- 
certainty; his  own  determination,  though  he  felt 
so  sure  of  it,  weakened  a  little  before  the  mem- 
ory of  the  opposition  of  all  his  friends.  In  such 
a  mood  he  loitered  into  the  cottage  parlor,  where, 
finding  the  Widow  Flemyng  sitting  idle  in  the 
dusk,  he  drew  up  a  stool  and  blurted  out  to  her 
his  true  name  and  how  matters  stood  with  him. 
"  I  fear  you'd  not  have  cared  to  harbor  me,  had 
you  known  what  a  charge  I  lay  under,"  he  con- 
cluded humbly. 

"  Why,  child,  I  suspected  all  along,"  the  good 
woman  hastened  to  reply,  and  Hugh,  staring  duti- 
fully at  the  gray  rain  outside  the  lattice,  thought 
it  wise  not  to  contradict  her.  It  gratified  him, 


xvii  THE  STRANGER  BY  THE  WAY  279 

too,  as  she  continued  speaking,  to  find  she  did 
not  hold  him  a  fool  for  his  resolution.  Indeed, 
she  said  emphatically  no  worse  harm  could  befall 
a  decent  lad  at  Oxford  than  at  Woodstead,  and 
in  any  case  she  was  well  assured  no  one  would 
ever  have  the  heart  to  hang  him.  "You  were 
best  cast  yourself  on  the  king's  mercy,"  she  ended. 
"  Now  had  you  great  friends  at  court,  or  could 
get  to  have  audience  with  his  Majesty." 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  the  ballad  of  '  Johnny 
Armstrong'?"  Hugh  asked.  "  Dick  used  to  sing 
it.  There  was  a  man  sought  the  king  for  pardon 
and  he  got  little  good  by  it." 

All  the  same  her  assurances  made  him  more 
confident  in  himself,  so  he  slept  that  night  un- 
troubled and  woke  ready  for  whatever  the  day 
might  bring.  Perhaps  it  was  the  widow's  con- 
tinued encouragements,  perhaps  it  was  the  good 
breakfast  he  made,  or  perhaps  the  sight  of  the  sun 
struggling  through  the  watery  clouds,  that  served 
still  farther  to  put  him  in  high  spirits.  Be  as  that 
may,  he  took  a  gay  farewell  of  Widow  Flemyng 
and  of  Nancy,  and  cantered  out  by  the  pasture 
lane  at  a  hopeful  pace,  as  if  he  were  eager  .to 
cover  the  distance  to  Oxford  and  whatever  waited 
him  there. 

The  rain  of  the  preceding  day  had  laid  the  dust 
well,  and  left  in  the  air  a  lingering  fragrance  of 
moist  earth  and  beaten  grasses  that  made  it  a 
temptation  to  slacken  speed  along  the  country 
road.  In  the  hedges  by  the  wayside  the  honey- 
suckle was  still  dripping  with  wet ;  Hugh  pulled 
a  tuft  of  blossoms  as  he  passed,  and  crushed  them 
slowly  in  his  bare  hand.  How  sweet  and  good 


28o  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

was  life  in  summer  time,  he  reflected,  and  then 
he  flung  the  blossoms  away  and,  whistling  persist- 
ently, thought  no  more,  for  his  mind  was  all  made 
up. 

At  the  first  tavern  he  came  to  he  bought  him 
a  draught  of  ale,  bravely,  now  there  was  money 
in  his  pocket,  then  trotted  on  without  halt  till 
past  noon.  By  that  the  sun  had  burnt  away  the 
clouds,  and  the  still  heat  made  the  journey  less 
pleasant;  so,  coming  upon  a  sleepy  village  with 
a  small  neat  inn,  the  "  Bear  and  Ragged  Staff," 
Hugh  thought  well  to  rest  the  midday  hours  and 
get  food  for  himself  and  his  horse.  The  fear  of 
being  recognized  and  apprehended  before  he 
should  have  a  chance  to  give  himself  up  made 
him  call  for  a  private  room,  where  he  ate  alone, 
except  that  the  host  bustled  in  to  serve  him  and 
retail  a  variety  of  gossip.  Oxford  was  near 
enough  for  the  daily  news  to  pass  to  the  village, 
so  Hugh  heard  a  deal  of  authentic  information  of 
how  the  king  was  said  to  lean  now  to  the  coun- 
sels of  the  hot-heads  and  to  the  army,  and  how 
the  royal  troops  might  any  day  set  forth  to  take 
in  Bristol.  He  scarcely  heeded  more,  for  the 
talk  of  Oxford  had  turned  his  thoughts  again  to 
what  was  before  him.  Where  should  he  eat  his 
next  meal,  he  wondered,  with  a  remembrance  of 
the  grim  Castle  ;  and  then,  impatient  at  his  own 
faltering,  he  jumped  up  hastily,  and,  paying  his 
reckoning,  went  down  to  the  little  court  of  the 
inn,  where  he  bade  them  saddle  Bayard  at  once. 

The  horse  had  been  led  out  into  the  shade  of 
an  open  shed,  and  Hugh  was  lingering  by  the 
stirrup  to  fee  the  hostler,  when  outside  the  gate- 


xvn  THE  STRANGER  BY  THE  WAY  281 

way  sounded  a  great  clattering  of  hoofs,  and  a 
gentleman  came  spurring  in  upon  a  white  horse, 
that  stumbled  on  three  legs.  "  Have  me  hither 
a  fresh  mount,  briskly,  you  knaves !  "  he  shouted, 
flinging  a  handful  of  loose  coin  among  the  stable- 
boys  and  loiterers.  Then,  as  he  put  eyes  on 
Bayard,  he  swung  himself  from  his  saddle. 
"  This  beast  will  serve  my  turn,"  he  called  to  the 
host,  who  had  just  showed  himself  at  the  door  of 
the  inn. 

"  By  the  Lord,  this  beast  will  not  serve  your 
turn  !  "  Hugh  cried  hotly,  and,  catching  hold  on 
Bayard's  bridle,  flung  himself  before  the  horse  in 
time  to  confront  the  stranger.  "  This  is  no  post- 
horse,  sir,  but  mine  own." 

The  other  turned  sharp  away  with  a  shrug  of 
the  shoulders;  they  were  broad  shoulders,  Hugh 
noted,  and  the  rough  gray  coat  fitted  them  ill. 
"  Put  saddle  to  another  horse  at  once,"  the  man 
bade. 

"  There  is  no  other  at  hand,  your  Honor,"  the 
host  apologized,  as  he  ventured  out  into  the  court. 
"  All  are  at  the  smith's.  Belike  in  a  half-hour, 
your  Worship  —  " 

"  Enough,"  the  other  interrupted  him,  and 
strode  back  to  Hugh.  "  What  will  you  sell  this 
beast  for  ?  "  he  asked  curtly. 

"Not  again  for  all  the  gold  in  England,"  Hugh 
replied,  tightening  his  grasp  on  the  bridle. 

"  My  faith,  sir,  I've  no  intent  to  knock  you 
down  and  steal  the  horse,"  the  other  answered, 
with  a  short  laugh. 

His  cool  tone  allayed  the  heat  of  Hugh's  anger 
sufficiently  for  him  to  note  the  man  more  closely 


282  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

now,  and  he  perceived  he  was  not  above  three  or 
four  and  twenty,  of  a  tall  strong  build,  with  sharp 
eyes.  Hugh  caught  his  breath  and  stared  frankly, 
while  his  mind  jumped  back  to  his  first  day  at 
Oxford,  when  he  and  Allestree,  standing  upon  the 
steps,  had  watched  the  king  and  his  retinue  ride 
by.  The  stranger  had  turned  his  back  upon  him 
now,  and  drawn  over  to  the  centre  of  the  court, 
but  his  voice  was  loud,  and  Hugh  could  hear  him 
bidding  the  hostler  run  out  and  procure  him  a 
farm-horse  or  aught  that  went  upon  four  legs. 
With  a  sudden  desperate  impulse  Hugh  thrust 
forward  and  spoke  boldly,  "  If  it  like  you,  sir, 
you  may  have  my  horse  now." 

"  Your  price  ? " 

"  No  price.     I'll  lend  him  unto  you." 

"  You've  changed  your  tune  quickly,  sir,"  said 
the  man,  coming  back  to  Bayard's  side. 

"  I'm  thinking  'tis  likely  your  business  is  of 
more  weight  than  mine,  your  Highness,"  Hugh 
answered,  in  a  tone  that  sank  to  a  whisper. 

"  So  you  know  me  ?  "  asked  the  stranger,  with 
his  foot  already  in  the  stirrup. 

"  I  can  guess,  sir." 

"  Spare  guessing,  then,  for  taxing  the  brain," 
retorted  the  other,  as  he  settled  himself  in  the 
saddle.  "  Give  me  your  name,  though,  sir ;  I'll 
not  forget  your  service." 

Hugh  hesitated  an  instant,  then  replied,  "  Hugh 
Gwyeth." 

"  I've  heard  that  name.  Perhaps  you're  kins- 
man to  him  that  killed  Bellasis'  son  ?  " 

"I  —  I  am  the  man  that  killed  him,  sir." 

"  You  ?     The   deuce   you   are !  "  the   stranger 


xvii  THE   STRANGER  BY  THE  WAY  283 

broke  out;  and,  to  Hugh's  amazement,  he  did 
not  look  horrified,  but  more  as  if  he  were  in- 
clined to  laugh.  "  Come  seek  me  to-morrow 
morning  at  my  quarters,"  he  said  abruptly,  then, 
gathering  up  the  reins,  went  out  of  the  inn 
yard  at  a  gallop. 

Hugh  stood  gazing  blankly  after  him,  and 
could  not  decide  whether  to  be  elated  or  dis- 
mayed, for  he  knew  the  stranger  was  Prince 
Rupert,  and  he  was  to  have  audience  with  him 
next  morning.  Carry  his  cause  to  the  king,  the 
widow  had  counselled  him,  Hugh  reflected,  and 
he  tried  to  smile  at  the  remembrance,  though  his 
heart  was  sober  and  anxious. 

Just  there  the  host  interrupted  him;  what  was 
his  pleasure  now  ?  Surely  he  would  not  attempt 
to  make  his  journey  with  the  lame  horse  ?  "  No, 
let  him  rest,"  Hugh  ordered;  "  I'll  venture  him  in 
the  morning.  For  now  give  me  a  chamber;  I'll 
lie  here  this  night." 

He  was  early  astir  next  day,  for,  though  the 
way  to  Oxford  was  short,  he  was  not  sure  of  his 
mount,  and,  in  any  case,  he  was  burning  with 
desire  to  present  himself  before  the  Prince  and 
know  the  worst  that  was  destined  for  him.  The 
white  horse  still  went  lame  with  a  strained  fore- 
leg, but,  sparing  him  as  much  as  he  could,  Hugh 
contrived  about  eleven  of  the  clock  to  pace  slowly 
into  the  city.  Before  he  entered  the  suburbs  he 
had  flung  on  his  cloak,  in  spite  of  the  heat,  and 
pulled  his  hat  low  on  his  forehead ;  but  still  he 
was  nervously  alert  to  avoid  the  fixed  gaze  of  those 
he  met,  and  he  dreaded  any  delay  in  the  street. 
By  dint  of  such  precautions,  perhaps,  he  came  at 


284  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

last  unchallenged  to  Christ  Church,  where  he  re- 
membered Prince  Rupert  had  his  quarters. 

The  groom  who  took  his  bridle  eyed  him 
sharply,  and,  once  across  the  quadrangle  and 
within  the  broad  hall,  a  trig  gentleman  usher 
looked  askance  at  his  worn  boots  and  shabby 
buff  coat.  Hugh  had  too  much  upon  his  mind, 
however,  to  trouble  for  his  poor  attire.  He  sat 
uneasily  in  the  great  chair  to  which  he  had  been 
motioned,  and  studied  the  sunlight  that  fell  from 
a  long  window  high  up  toward  the  roof  of  the 
hall,  till  the  usher  came  at  last  to  bid  him  follow. 
Hugh  trudged  obediently  up  a  great  flight  of 
stairs  that  creaked  alarmingly,  and,  as  he  went, 
wondered  why  there  was  an  emptiness  where  his 
heart  ought  to  be,  and  his  throat  felt  all  choked 
up. 

A  great  door  was  swung  open,  he  remembered ; 
then  he  was  within  a  long  sunshiny  chamber, 
with  heavy  table  and  big  dark  chairs,  the  usher 
had  gone,  and  he  was  left  face  to  face  with  his 
Highness,  the  Prince,  and  another  youngish  gen- 
tleman, who  sat  at  opposite  sides  of  the  table 
with  a  jumble  of  papers  betwixt  them.  "  You 
keep  your  time  well,  Master  Gwyeth,"  spoke  the 
Prince,  and  put  by  a  paper  like  a  map  he  had 
been  studying. 

"  Your  Highness  bade  me,"  Hugh  stammered. 

"  So  'twas  you  killed  Bellasis'  son,"  the  other 
repeated,  still  amusedly.  "  Lay  down  that  order, 
Grandison.  I  want  you  to  have  a  look  at  this 
desperate  duellist." 

"  That  boy,  your  Highness?  "  drawled  the  man 
at  the  table. 


xvn  THE  STRANGER  BY  THE  WAY  285 

The  blood  came  hot  into  Hugh's  cheeks.  "  I 
pray  your  Highness,  hang  me,  if  you  will,  but  do 
not  mock  me,"  he  blurted  out. 

"  Who  speaks  of  hanging  you  here,  lad  ? " 
Prince  Rupert  answered,  in  so  kindly  a  fashion 
that  Hugh  gazed  at  him  in  surprise.  "  Nay,  had 
I  my  way,  I'd  give  a  captaincy  to  every  man  who 
has  the  goodness  to  take  off  one  of  these  cursed 
civilians  who  are  always  holding  our  hands.  You 
are  of  the  army,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  hope  to  be,  your  Highness.  I  am  only  a 
volunteer  now." 

"  Tis  near  enough  for  all  soldiers  to  aid  you  as 
a  fellow-soldier.  —  And  how  think  you,  Grandison, 
my  Lord  Bellasis  would  take  it,  if  this  gentleman 
received  a  free  pardon  ?  " 

"  He  would  deem  himself  most  notably  af- 
fronted," the  other  answered  soberly. 

Hugh  made  a  step  forward  and  let  his  words 
come  fast :  "  If  it  be  your  Highness's  will,  if  'tis 
in  your  thought  to  aid  me,  I  do  entreat  you,  let 
my  case  go,  so  far  as  it  concerns  me.  But  there 
is  my  friend  that  went  to  the  field  with  me,  for 
my  sake,  and  cared  for  me  when  I  was  ill  with 
my  hurt  afterward.  He  lost  a  commission  be- 
cause of  me.  If  there  is  only  one  can  be  par- 
doned, I  beseech  your  Highness  let  it  be  he." 

"  And  how  do  they  call  this  notable  friend  of 
yours  ?  " 

"  Richard  Strangwayes,  your  Highness.  He 
was  lieutenant  in  the  regiment  of  Sir  William 
Pleydall." 

"  Pleydall  ?  Ah,  your  case  was  brought  unto 
our  notice  two  months  back.  Ay,  surely. 


286  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

Gwyeth  and  Strangwayes.  Sir  William  Pley- 
dall  was  urging  your  pardon  through  a  certain 
Captain  Gwyeth  who  came  to  me." 

Hugh  dropped  his  hand  down  on  the  back 
of  a  chair  close  by  and  griped  it  hard,  while  he 
gazed  blankly  at  the  Prince,  yet  scarcely  saw 
him.  Captain  Gwyeth  had  been  urging  his  par- 
don, he  repeated  over  and  over  to  himself,  yet 
could  not  make  it  comprehensible.  Then  he 
realized  that  his  Highness  was  speaking  again, 
and  he  roused  himself  up  to  listen.  "  Two 
months  back  that  was.  Well,  there  is  time  for 
many  matters  to  change  in  two  months.  Per- 
chance your  business  can  be  settled  for  you, 
Master  Gwyeth.  Only  you  must  promise  to 
fight  no  more  duels,"  the  Prince  added,  with  a 
laugh  in  his  sharp  eyes. 

"  I  will  promise,  your  Highness,"  Hugh  an- 
swered soberly. 

"  And  break  it,  I'll  wager.  You  were  ready  to 
draw  your  sword  on  a  poor  dismounted  traveller 
yesterday.  Maybe  you'd  like  to  have  back  that 
horse  you'd  not  take  all  the  gold  in  England  for  ?  " 

"  If  it  does  please  your  Highness,"  Hugh  said 
politely ;  then  added  honestly,  "  I  should  be  loath 
to  part  with  him." 

His  Highness  laughed  outright.  "  Go  to  my 
stable  and  call  for  the  horse,"  he  bade.  "Come 
hither  again  in  a  week  or  so,  and  there  may  be 
tidings  for  you.  Only  see  you  do  not  come  to 
court  too  often,  Master  Gwyeth  ;  'twould  be  a  pity 
to  spoil  the  honest  blunt  soldier  you  are  like  to 
be  with  a  slippery  courtier  polish." 

Then  he  turned  again  to  his  map  in  sign  of 


xvn  THE  STRANGER  BY  THE  WAY  287 

dismissal,  and  Hugh  somehow  contrived  to  bow 
himself  safely  through  the  door.  He  was  out  in 
the  green  quadrangle  before  he  got  it  through  his 
head  that  Prince  Rupert  himself  would  move  for 
his  pardon  to  the  king,  and  then  he  recollected  he 
had  not  even  said  "thank  you,"  and  he  flushed  hot 
with  the  consciousness  of  his  own  churlishness. 

It  changed  his  thoughts  a  trifle  to  seek  out  his 
way  to  the  stable  and  claim  Bayard,  whom  he  had 
been  ready  to  give  up  for  lost  and  was  proportion- 
ately glad  to  recover.  Once  upon  the  horse's 
back,  he  took  himself  unostentatiously  through 
the  streets  to  the  lodgings  of  his  fencing-master, 
de  Severac,  who  received  him  warmly,  when  Hugh 
assured  him  he  was  fairly  sure  of  pardon  and 
sought  only  to  have  quiet  harborage  for  the  week. 
Those  seven  days  he  passed  in  the  dingy  sleeping- 
room  behind  the  fencing-hall,  where  he  studied 
the  pictures  in  a  great  French  folio,  "  L'Academie 
de  1'Espee,"  or  entertained  de  Severac  in  his  leis- 
ure moments  with  a  full  account  of  the  duel  with 
Bellasis.  The  fencing-master,  who  took  a  pro- 
fessional pride  in  his  pupil's  success,  entreated 
Hugh  not  to  persist  in  saying  the  victory  was  due 
solely  to  Bellasis'  carelessness;  'twas  just  as  easy 
to  give  credit  to  himself  and  those  who  taught  him 
the  use  of  the  rapier. 

Thus  the  week  dragged  to  an  end,  while  Hugh 
counted  the  days  impatiently,  and  heard  with  ter- 
ror that  troops  were  setting  out  for  Bristol,  for  in 
the  confusion  the  great  men  might  well  forget  his 
business.  At  last  the  seventh  day  came,  and, 
having  put  on  a  clean  shirt  and  brushed  his  coat, 
he  set  out  for  Christ  Church.  As  he  went  he 


288  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

tried  to  steel  himself  against  possible  disappoint- 
ment by  telling  over  the  many  cases  of  the  ingrati- 
tude of  kings ;  but  at  heart  he  knew  he  did  not 
believe  so  ill  of  the  Prince,  and  in  the  end  his 
trust  was  justified.  He  had  not  been  kept  wait- 
ing many  minutes  in  the  great  hall,  when  a  trim 
officer  came  from  above-stairs,  and,  asking  him  if 
he  were  not  named  Gwyeth,  delivered  to  him  a 
fair  great  piece  of  parchment  all  sealed  up.  "  'Tis 
my  pardon  ?  "  Hugh  burst  out. 

The  other  smiled,  not  unkindly.  "  The  king 
of  his  clemency  has  been  pleased,  at  his  High- 
ness's  entreaty,  to  grant  a  full  pardon  to  those  who 
had  a  hand  in  the  death  of  Philip  Bellasis,"  he 
explained  formally;  then  added,  "  Suffer  me  con- 
gratulate you,  Master  Gwyeth." 

In  a  dazed  fashion  Hugh  shook  the  other's  hand, 
then  came  forth  from  the  hall  into  the  open  air. 
There  he  paused,  and  pushed  his  hat  well  back  on 
his  head  so  all  could  see  his  face,  then,  walking 
out  into  the  South  Street,  tramped  half  across  the 
city.  For  he  need  not  skulk  nor  shrink  now,  he 
was  a  free  man  again ;  and  how  stoutly  he  meant 
to  fight  for  Prince  Rupert,  since  he  could  show 
his  gratitude  in  no  other  way.  Then  it  came  over 
him  that  he  were  best  post  off  at  once  to  Tarn- 
worth  and  thank  Sir  William  Pleydall,  who  had 
first  begun  the  movement  to  relieve  him,  and 
thank  Alan  Gwyeth,  who  had  been  Sir  William's 
instrument.  Hugh  scowled  and  walked  a  little 
slower. 

But  still  all  his  friends  lay  at  Tamworth,  and  he 
would  speed  a  letter  thence  to  tell  Dick  the  good 
news;  so  in  the  end  he  made  briskly  for  his 


xvn  THE   STRANGER  BY  THE  WAY  289 

quarters.  Taking  time  first  to  hale  out  de  Seve- 
rac  to  a  fine  dinner  at  an  ordinary,  where  they  ate 
under  the  full  gaze  of  the  town,  he  got  to  horse, 
and,  ere  mid-afternoon,  trotted  forth  from  the  city. 
He  calculated  he  would  make  the  "  Bear  and 
Ragged  Staff "  just  about  dusk,  and,  true  enough, 
he  rode  down  the  village  street  while  the  red 
flush  of  the  sunset  still  lingered  in  the  west 

Inside  the  court  of  the  inn  he  saw  five  horses 
standing,  stripped  of  accoutrements  and  already 
half  rubbed  down  by  the  hostler  and  his  groom. 
"  Take  this  beast  of  mine  in  to  make  the  half- 
dozen,"  Hugh  bade,  and,  dismounting,  walked 
leisurely  across  the  court  to  the  side  door.  His 
eyes  travelled  above  the  door  to  an  open  lattice, 
and,  as  he  gazed,  like  the  flash  of  a  face  in  a 
dream,  he  had  sight  of  Dick  Strangwayes. 

For  an  instant  Hugh  stood  petrified  while  he 
took  in  each  detail,  —  Strangwayes'  clean-shaven 
jaw,  the  sweep  of  mustache,  the  bandage  about 
his  forehead,  even  the  way  in  which  he  leaned 
heavily  at  the  window,  resting  one  hand  against 
the  casement;  then  he  sprang  forward,  crying, 
"Dick!" 

Right  on  that  Strangwayes  flung  himself  for- 
ward half  out  at  the  casement,  and  shouted,  "  Into 
the  saddle  and  off  with  you,  off  with  you ! " 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

THE    CALL   OUT    OF    KINGSFORD 

JUST  inside  the  door  of  the  inn  was  a  steep 
flight  of  steps ;  Hugh  tripped  over  the  first,  but, 
almost  ere  his  outstretched  hand  touched  the 
floor,  was  on  his  feet  again  and  rushing  up  the 
stairway.  As  he  ran  he  pulled  his  sword  clear 
from  the  scabbard ;  if  matters  were  so  ill  Dick 
wished  him  thence,  he  would  have  need  of  it. 
But  in  the  corridor  above-stairs  all  was  quiet,  he 
noted  in  the  instant  in  which  he  paused,  holding 
his  breath,  and  gazed  at  the  closed  doors  along 
the  gallery.  "  Dick ! "  he  called  again,  so  there 
came  a  little  echo  from  the  end  of  the  corridor. 
Then  he  ran  headlong  for  the  nearest  door,  and, 
dashing  it  open  with  his  foot,  flung  himself  well 
into  the  centre  of  the  chamber.  By  his  very  im- 
petus he  thrust  out  of  his  way  a  man  in  a  blue 
livery  coat,  and,  clearing  free  passage  thus,  pushed 
up  to  the  wall  and  set  his  back  against  it.  There 
were  three  blue-coated  serving  men  in  the  room, 
he  perceived  now,  and  a  gross,  short-necked  man 
in  a  fine  riding-suit,  who  was  deliberately  bolting 
the  entrance  door.  Then  his  eyes  rested  on 
Dick,  who,  seated  well  away  from  the  window, 
was  leaning  back  indolently  in  his  chair  and 
tugging  at  his  mustache ;  only  Dick's  white  face 

290 


CH.  xvm      THE   CALL  OUT  OF   KINGSFORD  291 

was  tense,  Hugh  saw,  and  he  noted,  too,  that  his 
friend  wore  no  sword. 

It  was  the  short-necked  man  who  broke  the 
instant's  expectant  hush :  "  Master  Hugh  Gwyeth, 
the  tall  swordsman  ?  On  my  soul,  I  be  rejoiced 
to  meet  with  you.  Put  down  that  sword.  You 
are  my  prisoner." 

"What  knaves  are  these,  Dick?  "cried  Hugh, 
with  his  sword-hand  alert  on  the  hilt. 

"  Of  the  old  Bellasis  breed,"  Strangwayes  an- 
swered, and  let  his  hand  fall  from  his  mustache 
with  the  merest  gesture  toward  the  open  window, 
and  just  a  look  which  bade  Hugh  take  his 
chance. 

"  Ay,  we  apprehend  you  for  the  foul  murder 
of  my  kinsman,  Philip  Bellasis,"  spoke  the  man 
by  the  door. 

"  Is  that  all  ? "  Hugh  asked,  with  a  sudden 
nervous  laugh  of  relief.  He  clapped  his  sword 
back  into  the  sheath  and  tore  open  his  coat. 

"  Seize  his  arms  !  "  cried  the  short-necked  man. 

One  of  the  serving  fellows  had  sprung  at  him, 
when  Hugh,  striving  to  throw  him  off,  saw  Dick 
come  to  his  feet  at  a  jump  and  hit  out.  Some- 
body bellowed  with  pain ;  he  found  his  arm  free, 
and  Dick's  shoulder  pressing  against  his  as  they 
stood  to  the  wall.  "  Have  done,  have  done ! " 
Hugh  cried.  "  Read  you  there,  Dick." 

He  thrust  the  parchment  into  his  friend's  hands, 
and  Dick,  with  a  smothered  exclamation,  broke 
the  seals.  An  instant  of  silence  came  upon  the 
room,  as  if  all  had  half  guessed ;  only  the  rustle 
of  the  parchment  and  the  heavy  movement  of  the 
fallen  serving  man  dragging  himself  to  his  feet 


29 2  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

broke  the  quiet,  till  Strangwayes  spoke  with  omi- 
nous civility,  "  Will  you  deign,  Master  Bellasis,  to 
bestow  one  glance  upon  his  Majesty's  seal  and 
signature?  " 

"  You'll  not  deceive  me  —  "  said  the  gross  man 
with  much  bluster,  yet  he  came  hastily,  and,  gaz- 
ing upon  the  paper,  read  with  dropping  jaw. 

"  Now  have  you  any  farther  business  with 
me,  Master  Bellasis  ? "  Strangwayes  asked  easily. 
"Speak  quickly,  ere  I  go  across  the  corridor  to 
sup  with  Master  Gwyeth." 

The  other  said  something  that  was  choked 
with  inarticulateness  in  his  short  throat. 

"  I  am  ordering  my  supper  now,"  Strangwayes 
finished,  as  he  went  with  much  dignity  to  the 
door;  "and  hark  you,  sir,  I  want  my  sword 
brought  back  to  me  ere  supper  be  on  the  table. 
For  I'll  be  wishing  to  fetch  it  along  with  me 
when  next  I  come  to  seek  you." 

Then  he  made  Master  Bellasis  a  very  low  bow, 
and,  catching  Hugh  by  the  arm,  brought  him  out 
into  the  corridor.  Right  across  the  way  was  a 
vacant  chamber,  but  almost  before  they  were  in- 
side the  door  Hugh's  arms  were  about  Dick,  and 
Strangwayes,  with  his  voice  half  smothered  in 
the  roughness  of  the  embrace,  was  jerking  out : 
"  Heaven  forgive  Bellasis  his  other  sins  for  the 
good  turn  he  did  in  bringing  us  together.  But 
'twould  have  been  a  sorry  companionship,  had 
you  not  come  so  furnished."  Thereat  he  got 
Hugh  by  the  scruff  of  the  neck  and  set  him  down 
hard  on  the  nearest  stool.  "  Now,  you  thick- 
witted  rogue,"  he  ordered,  "  why  in  the  name  of 
reason  did  you  not  call  out  to  me  from  the  inn 


xvm  THE   CALL  OUT  OF  KINGSFORD  293 

yard  and  say  you  had  that  piece  of  parchment 
inside  your  coat?  Here  I  sat  a  good  half-hour 
and  schooled  myself  into  seeing  you  laid  by  the 
heels  along  with  me.  Faith,  I'll  look  to  find 
white  hairs  in  my  head  to-morrow." 

Hugh  laughed,  because  the  world  was  so  good 
now  he  could  do  nothing  else,  then  poured  out 
his  story  thick  and  fast,  —  Prince  Rupert  at 
the  "  Bear  and  Ragged  Staff,"  and  behind  that 
Newick,  and  Woodstead,  and  Ashcroft,  all  hud- 
dled together.  "  Lord  save  us  !  We  must  have 
food  to  help  down  such  a  lump,"  cried  Dick,  and, 
summoning  the  host  thereupon,  ordered  supper 
to  be  ready  in  quick  time. 

A  drawer  came  speedily  to  fetch  them  candles, 
and  barely  had  he  gone  when  one  of  the  blue- 
coats,  bowing  his  way  in,  handed  over  to  Strang- 
wayes  his  sword.  Dick  gave  him  money,  and 
bade  him  and  his  fellows  go  drink.  "  A  pleasant 
company  I've  been  keeping,  eh,  Hugh  ?  "  he  asked, 
with  a  dry  smile,  as  the  man  backed  out.  "  How 
came  I  by  it  ?  Alas,  a  man  cannot  always  choose. 
I  was  about  my  business  at  The  Hague,  like  a 
decent  gentleman.  And  that  fat  calf,  Herbert 
Bellasis,  —  'tis  a  cousin  to  the  whole  scurvy  con- 
nection,—  he  was  there  on  some  mischief,  and 
recognized  me." 

Just  there  came  supper,  but  across  the  table 
Strangwayes  drawled  on :  "  My  friend  Bellasis 
feared  a  young  man  like  myself  might  come  to 
harm  in  foreign  parts.  So  he  fetched  me  home." 

"  Fetched  you,  Dick  ?  " 

"  Very  simply.  He  and  his  bluecoats  met  me 
of  a  dark  night  in  a  byway.  He  was  urgent,  but 


294  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

I  refused  his  invitations.  Then  they  picked  me 
up  and  conveyed  me  aboard  an  English  ship." 

"  I  don't  believe  they  could,"  Hugh  said  bluntly. 

"  To  be  sure,  they  had  knocked  the  senses  out 
of  me,  else  I  had  not  come  so  meekly.  'Twas 
there  I  got  this  souse  in  the  head ;  'tis  near  healed 
now.  But  there  were  four  bluecoats  once;  one 
of  them  is  still  at  The  Hague,  cherishing  a  punc- 
tured lung ;  I  gave  it  to  him.  We  had  a  merry 
passage  over,  Hugh;  Bellasis  and  I  must  share 
the  cabin  and  eat  together.  He  used  to  tell  me 
over  the  wine  —  'twas  ship's  beer  and  flat  at 
that  —  how  I  ought  to  be  hanged,  and  he  hoped 
to  live  to  see  it  done.  And  I  used  to  compliment 
him  on  his  mad  dare-devil  courage.  For  if  at 
five  and  thirty  he  durst  attack  a  single  man  when 
he  had  only  four  to  back  him,  no  doubt  at  seventy 
he  would  dare  come  on  with  only  two  to  aid.  Nay, 
if  he  lived  long  enough,  he  might  yet  arrive  at 
fighting  man  to  man.  Methinks  the  length  of 
years  he  had  to  wait  discouraged  him,  by  the  vile 
temper  that  put  him  in.  Every  pleasure  has  an 
end,  so  at  last  we  made  the  Welsh  coast  and 
posted  hither,  in  the  very  nick  of  time,  it  seems. 
For,  Hugh,  after  this  last  exploit  of  yours,  I'd  be 
loath  to  leave  you  fending  for  yourself.  Man 
alive,  where  do  you  think  you'd  be  lying  now,  if 
you  hadn't  chanced  to  take  the  Prince's  fancy  ? " 

Hugh  answered  submissively  that  he  didn't 
know. 

"  Neither  do  I,"  Strangwayes  retorted  grimly. 
"  Nay,  nay,  don't  look  conscience-stricken  now, 
for  you  found  the  one  good  chance  in  a  hundred, 
and  it  has  all  come  well.  But  'tis  a  blessing  for 


xvra  THE   CALL  OUT  OF   KINGSFORD  295 

us  that  his  Highness  delights  to  fly  about  noisily 
in  disguise,  instead  of  plodding  soberly  about  his 
business.  It  has  been  more  of  a  blessing  to  us, 
perhaps,  than  to  the  kingdom." 

"  You  shall  not  speak  slurringly  of  Prince 
Rupert  in  my  presence!"  Hugh  flared  up. 

Strangwayes  said,  with  a  laugh,  that  he  would 
make  honorable  amends  by  drinking  his  High- 
ness's  health,  on  his  knees,  if  Hugh  desired ;  so 
they  ended  amicably  by  drinking  the  health  to- 
gether as  they  stood  by  their  chairs,  then  reli- 
giously smashed  their  glasses,  and  went  away  to 
bed. 

The  early  sunrise  roused  them  up  to  repeat 
and  re-repeat  all  that  had  befallen  in  the  months 
of  their  separation,  a  subject  which  lasted  them 
through  breakfast  till  they  quitted  the  table  and 
went  down  to  the  inn  yard.  "  Why,  Herbert 
Bellasis  has  taken  himself  and  his  people  hence," 
Hugh  cried,  after  one  glance  into  the  vacant 
stable. 

"  I  respect  wisdom  in  any  man,"  Strangwayes 
commented,  as  he  loitered  at  Hugh's  side  in 
among  the  stalls.  "  You  say  the  Prince  said  some- 
thing to  you  about  not  fighting  any  more  ?  Tut, 
tut !  'Tis  a  pity."  There  he  broke  off  suddenly, 
"  Why,  lad,  how  came  old  Bayard  back  to  you  ?  " 

"  Why  should  you  ask  ?  "  Hugh  replied  wisely. 
"  If  you  don't  know,  I  don't." 

"  I'd  take  it  kindly  if  you'd  talk  reason,"  Strang- 
wayes said  pathetically.  "  What  have  I  to  do  with 
your  horse  ?  I  don't  know  even  who  bought  the 
beast,  or  whither  he  was  taken  from  Oxford." 

Hugh  whistled  a  stave.     "  It  must  ha'  been  the 


296  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

same  who  sent  me  the  two  sovereign  from  Tam- 
worth.  Maybe  'twas  Sir  William,  or  perhaps 
Captain  Turner." 

"  Or  perhaps  Captain  Gwyeth,"  Dick  said,  after 
an  instant. 

Hugh  stared  blankly  a  moment,  then  stamped 
his  foot  down  on  the  stable  floor.  "  I  won't 
believe  it,"  he  cried  fiercely.  "  I  tell  you,  I'd  fling 
away  the  money  and  turn  the  horse  loose,  if  I 
believed  it." 

"  Captain  Gwyeth  had  a  hand  in  that  first 
movement  to  gain  your  pardon,"  Strangwayes 
spoke  impartially. 

"  He  was  only  Sir  William's  instrument,"  Hugh 
insisted,  and,  without  staying  to  caress  the  horse, 
strode  out  of  the  stable. 

Strangwayes  followed  in  silence ;  indeed,  that 
instant's  jar  ended  conversation  between  them  till 
they  were  back  in  their  chamber,  and  Dick  was 
busied  in  writing  the  news  of  his  whereabouts 
and  the  outcome  of  the  Bellasis  affair  to  Sir 
William.  "What  use?"  urged  Hugh,  wearied  of 
gazing  out  of  the  window  with  no  one  to  talk  to. 
"  We'll  be  at  Tamworth  soon." 

"  Not  for  a  little  time,"  Strangwayes  answered, 
with  his  eyes  intent  on  the  sheet ;  "  I've  business 
here  at  Oxford." 

He  did  not  tell  his  companion  what  the  busi- 
ness might  be,  but  to  all  appearances  it  was  fur- 
thered by  taking  a  room  in  Oxford,  by  dining 
with  various  gentlemen  and  officers,  and  by  devot- 
ing some  days  to  a  happy  and  care-free  time  of 
which  Hugh  enjoyed  every  moment.  Not  till  the 
morning  succeeding  the  day  on  which  the  king 


xviii  THE  CALL  OUT  OF  KINGSFORD  297 

left  the  city  to  take  possession  of  Bristol  did 
Strangwayes  make  mention  of  the  northward 
journey;  then  he  routed  Hugh  early  from  his 
bed  with  the  announcement  that  they  would  set 
out  at  once.  "  But  first  we  must  eat  a  meal  at 
the '  Sceptre,'"  he  concluded.  "  Fit  yourself  for  the 
road,  Hugh,  and  gallop  thither  to  order  dinner. 
If  I'm  not  with  you  ere  noon  I'll  have  been  called 
north  by  the  other  way,  so  do  you  post  after 
as  fast  as  you  can.  Remember." 

An  hour  later  Hugh  was  gayly  riding  out  by 
the  western  road,  which  he  had  last  travelled  with 
such  different  feelings,  and,  coming  in  the  mid- 
morning  to  the  "  Sceptre,"  ordered  dinner  grandly. 
Afterward  he  loitered  down  to  the  bowling 
green,  now  all  short  velvety  grass,  where  he  had 
inveigled  Martin,  the  friendly  drawer,  into  giving 
him  a  lesson  in  bowls,  when  Strangwayes  hailed 
him  noisily  from  the  doorway.  "  My  business  is 
despatched,"  he  said  smilingly,  as  Hugh  came  to 
meet  him.  "  After  all,  we'd  best  bribe  Martin  here 
to  eat  the  dinner  for  us.  We  must  be  off." 

They  went  out  from  the  "Sceptre"  at  a  rattling 
pace,  but  the  first  hill  slackened  their  speed  so 
conversation  was  possible.  Then  Strangwayes 
drawled  pleasantly,  "  I've  no  wish  to  deceive  you 
into  any  danger,  Hugh,  so  you  should  know  I 
have  just  fought  with  Herbert  Bellasis." 

14  Dick  !  "  Hugh  cried. 

"  I  was  most  circumspect,"  Strangwayes  apolo- 
gized. "  I  waited  till  the  king  was  well  away,  so 
I  might  not  do  it  in  the  very  teeth  of  him.  And 
I  did  not  hurt  the  fat  lump,  though  I'd  fain  have 
done  so.  I  only  knocked  the  sword  out  of  his 


298  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

fist,  and  then  the  poor  knave  was  very  ready  to 
kneel  down  and  crave  my  pardon,  and  swear  never 
so  to  abuse  a  gentleman  again.  Don't  put  on  your 
Puritan  face,  Hughie.  The  fellow  had  so  treated 
me  I  could  do  nothing  else." 

"  Why  did  you  not  let  me  come  to  the  field 
with  you  ? "  Hugh  protested.  "  I  take  it  most  un- 
kindly of  you." 

"  I  was  not  going  to  let  my  folly  spoil  your  new 
fortunes,"  Strangwayes  answered.  "  I  think  'twas 
done  so  quietly  'twill  all  blow  over,  since  we  have 
got  away  to  Tamworth.  But  if  not,  no  charge 
can  come  against  you." 

"  Why  will  you  always  be  sparing  me  as  if  I 
were  a  child?"  Hugh  cried,  with  an  angry  break 
in  his  voice. 

"  Because  some  ways  you  are  still  just  a  long- 
legged,  innocent  bairn,"  Dick  replied,  with  a 
chuckle,  whereat  Hugh  tried  to  sulk,  but  that  was 
impossible  with  Dick  talking  fast  of  their  comrades 
at  Tamworth.  In  the  end  he  must  talk,  too,  and 
laugh  with  Dick,  till  he  forgot  the  hurt  to  his 
dignity. 

By  hard  riding  they  contrived  before  moonrise  to 
reach  Ashcroft  and  rouse  up  the  Widow  Flemyng. 
She  fair  hugged  Hugh,  and  said  of  course  she  knew 
he'd  get  his  pardon ;  then  fell  to  cooking  their 
supper,  while  she  talked  loudly  and  contentedly 
to  either  of  them  or  both.  Next  morning  they  set 
out  in  dubious  weather,  and,  going  a  short  stage 
out  of  their  direct  road,  passed  that  night  with 
Butler  and  his  officers,  who  made  much  of  Strang- 
wayes, though  they  looked  askance  at  Hugh,  and 
were  half  loath  to  forgive  him  .for  not  getting 


xviii  THE   CALL  OUT  OF   KINGSFORD  299 

hanged  as  they  had  prophesied.  Next  evening 
brought  them  to  Sir  William  Pleydall's  great  house 
in  Worcestershire,  where  his  widowed  daughter, 
Mistress  Cresswell,  gave  them  a  hearty  welcome, 
and,  riding  thence  at  sunrise,  they  came  at  last 
unto  Tamworth. 

It  was  about  four  of  the  afternoon,  hot  and 
moist  with  slow  rain,  when  they  rode  across  the 
King's  Dyke  down  the  narrow  High  Street  of 
the  town.  At  the  door  of  a  tavern  Hugh  caught 
sight  of  a  trooper  loitering,  a  shiftless  fellow  of 
Turner's  company,  but  he  longed  to  jump  down 
and  have  speech  with  the  rascal.  "  Let  us  push 
on  briskly,  Dick,"  he  begged,  and  so  they  went  at  a- 
swinging  pace  down  the  street  and  across  the  river, 
where  on  its  height  Tamworth  Castle  towered 
black  against  the  gray  sky.  There  was  a  shout 
of  greeting  to  the  petty  officer  of  the  watch,  a 
scurrying  of  grooms  in  the  paved  south  court  of 
the  castle,  and  then  the  word  of  their  coming 
must  have  travelled  at  high  speed,  for  barely  had 
they  crossed  to  the  main  door  of  the  keep  when  a 
young  officer  ran  out  to  meet  them,  and  fell  on 
Strangwayes.  "  Have  you  forgot  me,  Lieutenant? " 
he  cried. 

"Sure,  no,  Cornet  Griffith,"  Dick  answered 
heartily.  "  Your  leg's  recovered  ?  " 

"A  matter  of  a  limp;  it  does  well  enough  in 
the  saddle.  I  have  back  my  commission  under 
Captain  Turner  now,  so  we'll  serve  in  the  same 
troop.  Ay,  your  lieutenancy  is  waiting  for  you." 

Talking  boisterously,  they  crossed  the  great 
hall  that  was  now  a  guardroom,  and,  passing  into 
one  of  the  lesser  rooms  that  served  the  officers, 


300  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

came  upon '  Michael  Turner.  It  pleased  Hugh 
more  than  he  could  show  that  the  captain  did  not 
scoff  at  him,  but  gave  him  a  half-embrace,  saying 
kindly :  "  Faith,  we're  glad  to  have  you  back, 
Gwyeth."  Though  next  moment  he  had  turned 
away  to  talk  with  Strangwayes :  "  You've  come 
in  time  for  work,  Lieutenant.  They're  drawing 
all  the  men  they  can  find  westward  unto  Glouces- 
ter, where  they  say  there  will  be  brisk  doings. 
Leveson's  and  my  troops  are  here  in  the  castle ; 
Gwyeth 's  has  gone  a-raiding  into  Warwickshire ; 
the  others  are  all  prancing  into  the  west.  We're 
a  scant  hundred  to  defend  the  whole  town,  so 
we'll  gladly  give  you  the  pleasure  of  keeping  the 
watch  to-night." 

Strangwayes  came  away  laughing,  and  under 
Griffith's  guidance  they  went  down  a  corridor  to 
a  snug  parlor,  where  they  had  the  good  fortune 
to  find  Sir  William,  idle  for  the  moment,  and 
unattended  save  by  a  single  hound.  The  dog 
made  a  dash  to  meet  Dick,  barking  hilariously 
the  while,  so  Hugh  could  only  see  that  the  bar- 
onet embraced  his  nephew  warmly,  and  he  stepped 
back  a  little  to  leave  them  to  themselves.  But 
Dick  haled  him  forward,  and  Sir  William  spoke 
to  him  with  a  gracious  sort  of  welcome  that  made 
Hugh  stammer,  when  he  tried  to  thank  him  for 
the  effort  to  secure  his  pardon.  "  Nonsense,  non- 
sense," spoke  Sir  William ;  "  we  had  no  need  to 
seek  it,  sir.  You  have  the  wit  or  the  good  fortune 
to  be  able  to  maintain  yourself  without  our  help. 
Your  father  ought  to  be  proud  of  you."  He 
stopped  there,  then,  as  he  turned  again  to  Strang- 
wayes, added  with  a  certain  diffidence :  "  I  pray 


xvra  THE   CALL  OUT  OF  KINGSFORD  301 

you,  Master  Gwyeth,  do  not  forget  to  go  speak  to 
Francis ;  he  has  been  in  a  fit  of  the  sullens  since 
yesternight." 

Hugh  left  the  room  in  some  wonderment,  and, 
seizing  upon  a  serving  man,  was  speedily  conducted 
by  a  passageway,  up  a  flight  of  stairs,  and  along 
a  gallery  to  a  closed  door.  Hugh  knocked,  and, 
getting  no  reply,  knocked  again,  then  tried  the 
door  and  found  it  bolted  within.  "  Frank,"  he 
called,  and  began  shaking  the  door.  "  Open  to  me. 
Tis  Hugh  Gwyeth." 

There  was  an  instant's  pause,  then  a  slow  step 
across  the  floor,  and  the  grate  of  the  bolt  in  the 
socket.  "  Come  in,  hang  you !  "  Frank's  voice 
reached  him. 

It  was  a  big  cheerless  tower  chamber,  Hugh 
saw,  with  heavy  scant  furniture  and  windows  high 
from  the  floor  that  now  gave  little  light.  He 
stood  a  moment,  half  expecting  Frank  to  speak 
or  bid  him  be  seated,  but  the  boy  slouched  back 
to  the  bed  that  stood  in  the  farther  corner,  and, 
without  looking  at  him,  flung  himself  down  upon 
it.  "Why,  what's  amiss?"  Hugh  broke  out, 
and  went  to  him;  now  he  came  nearer  he  saw 
Frank  had  been  crying  much. 

"  Nothing,"  the  boy  answered,  and  kept  his  face 
bent  down  as  if  he  were  ashamed. 

"Tell  me,"  Hugh  urged,  "you'll  feel  the  better 
for  it.  Is  it  anything  because  of  Griffith  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it's  that,"  Frank  cried,  raising  his  head 
defiantly.  "  They  have  taken  away  my  cornetcy, 
Hugh.  'Tis  all  along  of  Michael  Turner.  And 
I  never  harmed  him;  I  had  done  my  best.  But 
he  comes  to  my  father ;  he  says  he  must  have  a 


302  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

man  for  his  troop.  So  my  father  turns  his  anger 
on  me;  he  said  I  was  a  selfish,  heedless  child, 
where  'twas  time  I  bore  me  as  a  young  man.  And 
then  Ned  Griffith  comes  back  all  cured,  and  they 
stripped  me  of  my  cornetcy  to  give  it  to  him." 
Frank  dropped  down  with  his  face  buried  in  the 
pillow.  "  I  pray  you,  go  away,"  he  choked ;  and, 
in  the  next  breath,  "  Nay,  come  back,  Hugh ; 
you've  always  been  my  friend." 

Hugh  sat  down  obediently  by  the  bed,  scarcely 
knowing  what  to  say,  when  Frank  with  his  face 
still  hidden  suddenly  broke  out,  "  Hugh,  did  you 
look  to  have  that  cornetcy  last  winter?" 

Hugh  hesitated:  "Yes,  I  did  hope.  But  I  had 
no  reason,  'twas  no  fault  of  yours." 

"  My  faith,  I  had  not  taken  it  of  you,  had  I 
known.  I'd  not  have  used  a  man  as  Ned  has 
used  me,  as  they  all  have  used  me.  I  have  been 
playing  the  fool,  and  they  all  have  been  scoffing 
at  me,  and  I  did  not  know  it." 

"  Sure,  you  must  not  take  it  so  grievously, 
Frank,"  Hugh  urged.  "  Get  up  and  wash  your 
face  and  show  you  care  not.  You'll  have  an- 
other commission  soon,  when  they  see  you  are 
in  earnest." 

Between  coaxing  and  encouraging  he  got  Frank 
to  his  feet  at  last,  and  even  persuaded  him  to  eat 
supper,  which  he  ventured  to  order  sent  to  the 
chamber.  Throughout  Hugh  did  his  best  to  talk 
to  the  boy  of  any  and  all  matters  that  had  befallen 
him,  till  he  roused  him  to  a  certain  dull  interest. 
"  So  you've  had  back  your  horse  all  safe  ?  "  Frank 
asked  listlessly.  "  'Twas  I  procured  Captain  Gwyeth 
the  name  of  the  place  where  you  were  hiding. 


xvni  THE   CALL  OUT  OF   KINGSFORD  303 

He  bought  the  horse  when  'twas  sold  at  Oxford, 
and  he  wished  you  to  have  it,  that  time  when  he 
was  working  for  your  pardon.  Yes,  I  know  your 
father  well ;  he  is  always  kind  to  me,  and  does 
not  mock  me  as  the  others  have  been  doing.  I 
used  to  tell  him  all  about  you,  and  then  he  asked 
me  find  where  you  were  lodging.  I  had  influence 
with  my  father  then,  so  I  could  learn  it,"  he  added 
bitterly. 

All  thought  of  comforting  Frank  had  left  Hugh; 
he  tried  to  listen  with  sympathy  to  his  piteous 
complaints,  but  it  was  useless;  so  he  rose,  and, 
bidding  him  as  cheery  a  good  night  as  possible, 
and  promising  to  come  back  in  the  morning,  went 
out  from  the  chamber.  At  the  end  of  the  gallery 
was  a  deep  window-seat,  where  he  sat  down  and 
stared  out  at  the  roofs  of  the  town  that  huddled 
gray  in  the  twilight,  so  intent  on  his  own  thoughts 
that  he  started  when  Dick  touched  his  shoulder. 
"  How  did  you  leave  the  poor  popinjay  ?  "  Strang- 
wayes  asked,  with  a  trace  of  a  laugh  in  his  voice. 

"  Better,  I  think,"  Hugh  replied. 

"  Poor  lad  !  Sir  William  might  remember  there 
is  a  mean  betwixt  over-indulgence  and  severity. 
But  Frank  has  brought  it  on  himself.  When  he 
forgot  to  do  his  duty  in  the  troop  he  would  be 
trying  to  cajole  Captain  Turner  into  good  humor, 
just  as  he  has  always  cajoled  Sir  William.  And 
Michael  Turner  is  not  the  man  to  coax  that  way. 
He  has  influence  with  Sir  William,  too,  and  so — 
Well,  'twill  be  for  Frank's  good  in  the  end,"  Dick 
concluded  philosophically,  as  he  settled  himself  on 
the  window-bench. 

Hugh  made  room  for  him,  then  went  on  star- 


304  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

ing  at  the  gray  sky.  Suddenly  he  broke  out, 
"  Dick,  it  was  Captain  Gwyeth  sent  me  Bayard." 

"Ay?"  the  other  answered,  without  surprise. 
"  And  I  have  it  of  Sir  William,  he  was  main  urger, 
and  drew  him  on  to  what  seemed  a  hopeless  at- 
tempt to  gain  our  pardon." 

Hugh  scowled  at  his  boots.  "  I  take  it  I  must 
wait  on  him  and  tell  him  '  thank  you,'  when  he 
comes  back  out  of  Warwickshire.  I  wish  he  had 
let  me  alone !  "  he  cried. 

"  You  are  like  your  father,"  Strangwayes  said 
judicially,  leaning  back  on  the  window-bench. 
"  See  to  it,  Hugh,  you  do  not  make  the  resem- 
blance too  complete." 

"  How  that  ?  "  Hugh  asked  guiltily. 

"  By  giving  way  to  your  ugly  pride,  so  you  do 
what  it  may  take  months  of  repentance  to  undo." 

Hugh  made  no  answer,  and  the  silence  be- 
tween them  lasted  till  the  gallery  was  quite  dark, 
when,  slipping  off  the  window-seat,  they  tramped 
away  to  their  comrades  below. 

Next  day  Hugh  gave  himself  up  to  Frank, 
who,  truth  to  tell,  in  his  present  half-subdued 
state  was  pleasanter  company  than  he  had  been 
at  Oxford.  He  persuaded  Master  Pleydall  to 
come  out  and  view  the  town,  which  took  them 
till  mid-afternoon ;  and  then  they  loitered  back 
to  the  castle,  with  discreet  turnings  to  avoid 
meeting  any  of  the  other  officers.  Frank  dodged 
into  a  tavern  to  keep  out  of  sight  of  Griffith,  but 
he  dragged  Hugh  half  a  mile  down  a  blind  lane 
to  avoid  a  suspected  encounter  with  Captain 
Turner.  "  Mayhap  I  was  impudent  and  forward, 
so  he  got  at  last  to  ask  my  advice  about  conduct- 


xvin  THE  CALL  OUT  OF  KINGSFORD  305 

ing  the  troop,  when  others  of  the  men  were  by. 
And  I  thought  he  meant  it  all  in  sober  earnest." 
Frank  made  a  brave  attempt  at  nonchalance,  but 
his  lips  quivered  so  Hugh  had  an  improper  de- 
sire to  chastise  Michael  Turner ;  for  all  his  swag- 
ger and  affectation,  Frank  had  been  too  innocent 
and  childish  a  lad  to  be  scathed  with  the  cap- 
tain's pitiless  sarcasms. 

Luckily  they  had  no  more  encounters  with 
men  from  the  garrison  till  they  were  nearly  at 
the  gate  of  the  castle,  and  then  it  was  only 
Strangwayes,  riding  forth  in  full  armor,  with 
some  twenty  men  behind  him,  to  post  the  watch 
about  the  town  for  the  evening  hours.  Hugh 
made  him  a  formal  salute,  which  Dick  returned 
gayly  before  he  rode  on. 

"  Dick  is  right  fond  of  you,"  Frank  said,  with 
a  shade  of  envy;  and  after  that  they  sauntered 
in  a  moody  silence,  till,  the  sight  of  the  stables 
cheering  Frank  a  bit,  he  prayed  Hugh  come  in 
and  look  at  The  Jade.  "  I've  not  seen  the  old 
lass  since  day  before  yesterday,"  he  explained. 

They  were  still  lingering  to  admire  the  mare, 
when  two  grooms  came  hurrying  a  lathered  horse 
into  the  stable.  "  Who's  been  riding  so  hard  ?  " 
Hugh  asked  carelessly. 

"  Messenger  from  the  troop  to  the  south,  sir." 

"To  the  south?"  Hugh  repeated.  "Come 
quickly,  Frank,  I  must  see — " 

He  walked  rapidly  across  the  courtyard  to 
the  door  of  the  guardroom.  About  it  men  were 
crowded,  and  more  were  pressing  into  the  room 
itself;  but  at  Hugh's  jostling  they  made  him  a 
way  into  the  thick  of  them.  Over  on  a  bench 


306  HUGH  GWYETH  CH.  xvra 

in  the  corner  he  had  sight  of  a  man  with  the 
sleeve  cut  from  his  coat,  who  sat  leaning  heavily 
against  a  comrade.  Another,  whom  Hugh  recog- 
nized as  the  surgeon  of  the  regiment,  was  washing 
a  wound  in  his  arm,  and  as  he  moved,  Hugh  got 
a  glimpse  of  the  face  of  the  injured  man. 
"  Cowper ! "  he  cried,  and  ran  forward,  for  he 
knew  the  fellow  for  one  of  Captain  Gwyeth's 
old  independent  troop. 

Men  gave  him  place ;  he  heard  a  mutter  amongst 
them,  "  The  captain's  son,"  but  he  did  not  heed ; 
just  pushed  his  way  to  the  wounded  man,  and 
bent  over  him :  "  Cowper,  what  has  happened  ? 
Is  anything  wrong  with  my  father  ?  Tell  me." 

"  They  closed  in  on  us,  sir,"  the  man  roused 
up  to  speak.  "  Captain  Oldesworth's  horse,  and 
a  company  of  foot  beside.  They  took  our  horses 
and  they  slew  Cornet  Foster.  I  came  through 
for  help.  They  have  the  colonel  blocked  up  in 
Kingsford  church." 


CHAPTER  XIX 

THE    RIDING   OF   ARROW  WATER 

FOR  a  moment  the  faces  of  the  men  about  him 
went  all  blurry  to  Hugh's  sight;  then  he  was  mak- 
ing his  way  fumblingly  across  the  guardroom,  and, 
thrusting  out  one  arm  before  him,  found  the  door 
to  the  inner  part  of  the  castle.  Now  that  he  was 
hurrying  at  a  surer  pace  down  the  corridor  within, 
he  realized  that  his  breath  was  coming  in  short 
gasps  and  he  was  shaking  with  a  nervous  tremor. 
Kingsford,  Kingsford,  the  word  kept  singing 
through  his  head ;  the  Oldesworths,  who  had  so 
hated  Alan  Gwyeth,  held  him  at  their  mercy  now 
at  Kingsford.  Only  to  Hugh  it  was  no  longer 
Alan  Gwyeth,  but  his  father,  the  father  whom  his 
mother  had  taught  him  to  respect,  who  had  tried 
to  win  him  a  pardon.  And  he  had  begrudged 
the  man  even  a  grateful  thought. 

Hugh  dashed  open  the  door  of  his  chamber, 
and,  kicking  off  his  shoes,  began  tugging  on  his 
boots.  He  heard  a  step  behind  him,  as  he  strug- 
gled with  his  head  bent ;  then  came  Frank's  voice : 
"  Hugh,  you've  heard?  They  have  cut  him  off; 
he  has  cried  for  help ;  my  father  is  taking  counsel 
with  the  captains  — " 

"  Counsel  ? "  cried  Hugh,  springing  to  his  feet. 
"  Why  don't  they  send  him  aid  ?  "  He  tore  his 
buff  coat  down  from  the  wall. 

307 


3o8  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

"  Faith,  'tis  a  question  if  there  is  aid  to  send," 
Frank  cried,  in  equal  excitement,  as  he  made  a 
hindering  effort  to  help  Hugh  into  the  coat; 
"  they  have  taken  away  so  many  of  our  regiment ; 
we  are  scant  a  hundred  men  all  told ;  they  say 
'tis  doubtful  if  we  can  send  —  " 

"  Then  I'll  go  to  Kingsford  alone.  Run  bid 
them  saddle  Bayard,  Frank,  quick."  With  that 
Hugh  caught  up  his  sword,  and,  going  full  speed 
out  of  the  chamber,  drowned  in  the  clatter  of 
his  boots  the  protests  Frank  sent  after  him. 

Below,  in  the  tower  room  that  served  for  con- 
ferences, Sir  William  would  be  with  his  officers, 
and  he  hoped  there  to  learn  farther  news.  Almost 
at  the  door  he  ran  upon  a  man  from  Turner's 
troop,  all  accoutred,  who  drew  back  and  saluted 
him.  "  What  seek  you  ?  Know  you  what  they 
are  planning  ?  "  Hugh  asked  excitedly. 

"  Nay,  sir ;  only  I  was  bid  have  my  horse  ready, 
and  stand  at  their  service." 

Hugh  could  guess  the  service.  Pushing  by  the 
trooper  to  the  door  of  the  chamber,  he  knocked 
a  rattling,  peremptory  knock,  and  another  right 
upon  it.  At  that  the  door  was  wrenched  open, 
and  Leveson,  grim  and  dignified,  had  begun, 
"  What  brings  you,  sirrah  ?  "  when  Turner's  voice 
interrupted:  "Hugh  Gwyeth,  is  it?  Let  him 
come  in." 

After  that  Hugh  had  a  confused  sight  of  the 
high-studded  room,  with  the  sunlight  far  up  on 
the  walls  and  the  corners  dusky,  and  of  the  men 
by  the  table,  who  had  faced  toward  him.  Then 
he  found  himself  over  by  Sir  William's  armchair, 
his  hand  resting  hard  upon  the  table,  and  he  was 


xix  THE   RIDING  OF  ARROW  WATER  309 

speaking  rapidly :  "  I  am  going  to  Kingsford,  Sir 
William,  to  my  father.  If  you  are  seeking  a  mes- 
senger for  anything,  I'll  bear  it  safely.  For  I  am 
going  straightway." 

"  Nay,  I  shall  not  suffer  it,  Hugh  Gwyeth,"  the 
baronet  cut  him  short.  "  Do  you  understand  ? 
The  roads  are  close  beset ;  the  trooper  who 
brought  us  the  tidings  was  shot  in  the  arm  and 
the  side." 

"  But  I  know  the  Kingsford  roads.  I  can  make 
it,"  Hugh  protested,  and  looked  from  one  to  an- 
other of  the  three  dubious  faces.  "  Sure,  you'll 
let  me  go,"  he  burst  out.  "  I  must.  If  he  be  — 
harmed  and  I  not  there.  I  must  go."  His  eyes 
dropped  to  his  hands  that  were  clinching  his  hat 
fast,  and  rested  there ;  he  dared  not  glance  again 
at  those  about  him  lest  he  find  refusal  in  their 
looks,  and  he  hoped  they  might  not  be  gazing  at 
him,  for  he  knew  his  mouth  was  working. 

Then  Turner's  voice  sounded  quick  and  de- 
cided: "  Let  him  go,  Sir  William." 

"  Ay,  he  is  a  light  rider  and  he  knows  the 
roads.  A  good  messenger,  after  all,"  Leveson 
added  in  a  matter-of-fact  tone. 

Hugh  looked  up  hopefully  and  saw  a  glance 
exchanged  between  Sir  William  and  his  captains 
that  meant  his  case  was  won.  "  We'll  not  endan- 
ger you  with  a  written  message,"  the  baronet  spoke 
at  once ;  "  for  I  tell  you  frankly,  sir,  you  run  a 
hundred  chances  of  capture.  If  you  do  contrive 
to  bring  yourself  through  the  rebel  lines,  bid  Cap- 
tain Gwyeth  from  me  to  hold  out  but  two  days, 
till  Saturday,  and  he  shall  have  help.  'Tis  so  you 
have  determined,  gentlemen  ? " 


310  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

"  If  the  Lord  aid  us,  we  can  recall  enough 
troops  to  make  the  town  good  and  ride  for  the 
rescue  by  then,"  Turner  answered. 

"  That's  all  your  message,  Gwyeth,"  Sir  William 
resumed ;  "  and  remember,  if  the  rebels  knew  the 
time  when  relief  could  be  looked  for,  'twould  aid 
them  mightily,  so  if  you  be  taken  —  " 

"  I'll  not  be  taken,  sir,  I  do  assure  you,"  cried 
Hugh,  with  his  hand  on  the  latch  of  the  door ; 
"  I'll  come  through  safe  to  Kingsford." 

"  Heaven  grant  it !  "  the  other  said,  with  a  trace 
of  a  smile,  and  then  soberly,  "  I  can  warn  you,  the 
captain  will  be  glad  at  heart  to  see  you." 

Turner  said  something  kindly,  too,  Hugh  re- 
membered afterward,  but  for  the  present  it  was 
just  people  speaking  and  wishing  him  God  speed, 
and  he  was  glad  when  he  clapped  on  his  hat  out- 
side the  door  and  could  run  for  his  horse. 

Outside,  the  whole  castle  seemed  emptied  into 
the  south  court;  Leveson's  and  Turner's  men, 
some  in  coats  and  more  in  shirt-sleeves,  who 
shouted  questions  and  the  tidings  back  and  forth, 
and  swore  and  scuffled  at  the  jostlings  of  the 
crowd.  The  sun  was  down,  but  the  early  twi- 
light still  was  clear  between  the  gray  walls, 
enough  to  bring  out  every  detail  of  the  swarming 
courtyard,  and  to  enable  Hugh  to  distinguish 
the  faces  of  the  men.  Down  in  the  thick  of  the 
throng  he  caught  sight  of  Frank,  with  a  groom 
holding  The  Jade,  and  he  ran  down  from  the 
doorway  to  him.  At  that,  some  of  the  men  set 
up  a  cheering,  under  cover  of  which  Frank,  put- 
ting his  arm  round  Hugh's  shoulders,  said  in  a 
low  tone  :  "  I  want  you  to  take  the  mare,  Hugh ; 


xix  THE  RIDING  OF  ARROW  WATER  311 

she's  faster  than  Bayard,  and  she's  not  been  used 
these  two  days ;  and  I  did  not  know  it  was  your 
cornetcy  I  was  taking,  and  I  want  you  to  ride  her. 
Into  the  saddle  with  you ! " 

Without  wit  or  time  to  reply,  Hugh  found  him- 
self on  the  mare's  back,  felt  her  quiver  beneath 
him,  and  had  opened  his  mouth  to  bid  the  groom 
let  go  her  head,  when  the  shouting  swarm  be- 
tween him  and  the  great  gateway  was  suddenly 
cleft  apart.  Up  the  lane  Black  Boy  came  swing- 
ing with  Strangwayes  pulling  taut  on  the  bridle 
so  he  eased  up  at  Hugh's  side.  "Get  you  down," 
Dick  cried  without  question,  and,  springing  to 
the  ground  himself,  began  tearing  off  his 
cuirass. 

"  What  will  you  have  ?  Be  brisk,"  Hugh 
shouted,  coming  out  of  his  saddle. 

Strangwayes  flung  his  cuirass  about  him,  and 
began  very  deliberately  taking  in  the  straps  to 
fit  Hugh's  body.  "  Did  you  think  you  were  going 
on  a  pleasure  ride  ?  "  he  asked.  Frank  burst  into 
a  nervous  laugh,  which  others  caught  up,  and 
some  began  cheering  for  the  lieutenant.  Hugh 
heard  The  Jade  prancing  with  impatience  at  the 
sound,  and  he  himself  fairly  squirmed  under 
Dick's  touch.  "  Let  me  be  off !  "  he  cried. 

"You've  all  night  before  you,"  Strangwayes 
drawled.  "  Hold  up  your  arm  so  I  can  get  at 
the  strap." 

Just  then,  through  the  clatter  of  The  Jade's 
restless  hoofs  and  the  hum  of  the  eager  crowd 
about  him,  Hugh  heard  his  name  called.  Look- 
ing over  his  shoulder  he  saw  Cowper,  with  his 
face  the  color  of  ashes,  limp  up  between  two  com- 


312  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

rades.  "  They  said  'twas  you  should  go  to  Kings- 
ford,  sir,"  the  man  addressed  him. 

"  I'm  to  venture  it,"  Hugh  answered.  "  How 
left  you  matters  there,  Cowper  ? " 

"  The  captain  has  the  church  and  the  grave- 
yard, sir.  The  rebels  hold  the  village  and  the 
bridge  over  the  Arrow.  I  got  across  two  mile 
up  at  the  Blackwater  ford.  The  river  ran  high, 
and  they  had  set  no  guard.  'Twas  breaking 
through  the  village  they  shot  at  me." 

"  Go  tend  your  hurt  now,"  Hugh  found  thought 
to  urge.  "  I'll  remember  the  ford,  be  sure.  Are 
you  done  now,  Dick  ?  " 

"  Done  with  that,"  replied  Strangwayes.  "  Are 
your  pistols  in  order?  And  the  word  for  the 
night  is  '  Gloucester ' ;  you'll  need  it  at  the  gates." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  Hugh  cried,  and  made  a  dash  for 
The  Jade,  who,  dragging  her  groom  at  her  head, 
had  fretted  herself  a  good  ten  feet  away.  A 
trooper  jumped  forward  and  caught  her  bit  to 
stay  her;  but  it  was  Dick,  Hugh  remembered, 
who  held  the  stirrup  so  he  could  swing  himself 
easily  into  the  saddle.  "  God  speed  !  "  he  heard 
Strangwayes  say  in  the  instant  that  followed. 
"  We'll  be  at  your  heels  soon.  God  speed !  " 

That  was  all  the  farewell  between  them;  for 
the  men  stood  back  from  The  Jade's  head,  and, 
with  a  shrill  squeal,  she  darted  forward  across  the 
court.  Hugh  heard  the  click  of  her  hoofs  on  the 
cobblestones,  then  lost  the  sound  in  the  cheer 
upon  cheer  that  broke  from  those  about  him. 
His  arms  ached  with  the  tense  grip  he  was  hold- 
ing on  the  bridle,  and  then  he  found  the  mare 
had  the  bit  in  her  teeth.  "  Go,  if  you  will,"  he 


XDC  THE  RIDING  OF  ARROW  WATER  313 

cried,  letting  the  reins  looser.  The  shadow  of 
the  gateway  fell  upon  him ;  he  saw  the  flicker  of 
the  torch  beneath  it  and  the  white  faces  of  the 
men  on  guard.  Then  he  had  jammed  his  hat  on 
hard,  and,  bending  his  head,  was  striving  to  hold 
The  Jade  straight  as  she  tore  down  the  slope  and 
sped  through  the  town. 

Houses  and  shops  rushed  by;  he  heard  a 
woman  shriek  abuse  after  him  for  his  mad  rid- 
ing ;  the  crash  of  opening  casements,  as  the  towns- 
folk leaned  out  to  see  him  pass ;  once,  too,  his 
heart  gave  a  jump  as  a  boy,  like  a  black  streak, 
shot  across  the  road  just  clear  of  The  Jade's  nose. 
Then  the  bulk  of  the  town  gate  blocked  his  way ; 
he  saw  the  sentinels  spring  forth  to  stay  him, 
and,  contriving  to  check  the  mare  an  instant,  he 
leaned  from  the  saddle  to  say  "  Gloucester "  to 
the  corporal  in  charge. 

"  Pass  free,"  came  the  word ;  the  men  stood 
from  his  path,  and,  giving  loose  rein  to  The  Jade, 
he  flew  by  them  out  into  the  twilight  stretch  of 
open  country  road. 

For  a  time  it  was  just  breathless  riding,  with 
his  full  weight  on  the  reins  to  slacken  the  mare's 
speed ;  for  the  road  was  all  ruts,  and  he  feared  for 
her  slender  legs.  The  mud  spattered  up  even 
into  his  eyes,  and  once,  at  a  dip  in  the  road,  he 
felt  his  mount  make  a  half-slip  in  the  mire,  which 
sobered  her  somewhat,  so  he  could  ease  her  down 
to  a  slow,  careful  trot  that  promised  to  carry  him 
well  through  the  night.  Now  he  was  first  able 
to  look  about  at  the  broad,  dusky  fields  and  back 
over  his  shoulder,  where  Tamworth  town  and 
castle  were  merged  into  the  night.  The  first  ex« 


314  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

hilaration  of  the  setting  forth  went  from  him  in 
the  stillness  and  dark ;  it  was  steady,  grim  work 
he  had  before  him,  yet  he  felt  assured  he  would 
come  safely  into  Kingsford,  and,  spite  of  the  gravity 
of  it  all,  he  found  himself  smiling  a  little  at  the  way 
in  which,  at  last,  he  was  going  to  his  father.  He 
wondered  perplexedly  how  he  should  greet  Cap- 
tain Gwyeth,  and  how  phrase  his  message;  a 
formal  tone  would  perhaps  be  best  till  he  was 
sure  of  his  welcome.  But  Sir  William  had  said 
his  father  would  be  glad  at  his  coming ;  at  that 
thought  Hugh  pricked  on  The  Jade  a  little  faster. 

Once  clear  of  the  first  village  beyond  Tamworth 
he  entered  a  stretch  of  woodland,  where  the  black 
tips  of  the  trees  showed  vivid  against  the  starless 
gray  sky.  Below,  the  undergrowth  was  all  dense 
darkness  and  Hugh  thought  it  well  to  keep  a 
hand  on  his  pistol,  for  he  was  drawing  into  Puri- 
tan country  where  a  Cavalier  was  fair  game  for  an 
ambuscade.  Out  beyond  he  trotted  again  through 
fields,  only  blacker  and  lonelier  now  than  those 
by  Tamworth.  Such  cottages  as  he  passed  were 
silent  and  dark ;  at  one  farmstead  he  heard  a  dog 
howl,  and  once,  in  a  tangled  hollow,  a  bat  whizzed 
by  his  head,  but  he  saw  or  heard  no  other  living 
thing.  Though  once,  as  he  gazed  across  the 
fields  on  his  left,  he  made  out  in  the  distance  a 
gleam  of  light;  a  farm  must  lie  yonder,  and  he 
pictured  to  himself  the  low  cottage  chamber,  where 
the  goodwife  would  be  watching  with  a  restless 
child.  Such  shelter  and  companionship  was  be- 
tokened by  the  light  that  he  turned  in  the  saddle 
to  gaze  at  it  till  a  clump  of  trees  shut  it  from  him. 

It  must  have  been  something  after  midnight, 


xix  THE   RIDING  OF  ARROW  WATER  315 

though  under  that  starless  sky  he  could  not  tell 
the  time  surely,  when  he  clattered  into  a  consider- 
able town.  An  officious  watchman  with  a  bob- 
bing torch  ran  from  a  byway,  calling  on  him  to 
stand,  so  Hugh  clapped  spurs  to  The  Jade  and 
shot  through  the  street  at  such  a  pace  that  the  next 
watchman  could  only  get  out  of  his  course  with- 
out trying  to  stay  him.  But  after  that  he  grew 
wary  and,  when  the  outlying  houses  of  the  next 
town  came  out  of  the  black,  turned  off  into  the 
fields  and  picked  his  way  about  it.  The  round- 
about course  saved  him  from  interference,  but  it 
took  much  time ;  by  a  dull,  unbraced  feeling,  that 
was  not  sleepiness  nor  yet  quite  weariness  alone, 
he  knew  he  had  been  many  hours  in  the  saddle, 
and  he  began  to  look  to  the  east,  in  dread  lest  he 
catch  the  first  signs  of  daybreak. 

Presently  he  must  give  his  whole  attention  to 
The  Jade,  for  they  spattered  into  a  ford  where  the 
going  was  treacherous.  While  she  halted  to  drink 
he  gazed  about  at  the  bushes  and  the  field  before 
him,  and,  spite  of  the  dark,  knew  the  place.  It 
was  home  country  he  was  drawing  toward  now, 
so  he  trotted  on  slowly,  with  his  senses  alert  and 
his  eyes  peering  into  the  dusk  for  the  landmarks 
that  should  guide  him.  So  it  was  that  at  last  on 
his  right  hand  he  caught  sight  of  a  big  leafless 
oak,  beneath  which  he  pulled  up  short.  True 
enough,  he  remembered  the  way  in  which  the 
tree  stood  up  bare  and  alone  with  scragged  com- 
mon at  its  back ;  he  could  not  see  well  for  the 
dark,  but  he  knew  that  at  the  farther  edge  of 
the  open  land  was  a  belt  of  young  oaks  that  hid 
the  ford  of  Blackwater. 


3i6  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

He  lingered  beneath  the  blasted  oak,  time 
enough  to  look  to  his  pistols,  and  time  enough, 
too,  for  him  to  recall  the  ghostly  reputation  of 
the  lonely  tree,  so  his  nerves  were  crisping  as 
he  rode  by  it  into  the  common.  But  he  quieted 
The  Jade's  fretty  step,  and,  in  the  action  and  the 
thought  of  what  might  be  before  him,  steadied 
himself  till,  though  his  body  was  trembling  with 
eagerness,  his  head  was  cool.  He  took  the  pre- 
caution of  making  the  mare  keep  a  slow  trot  that 
was  half  muffled  in  the  turf,  though  he  urged  her 
as  much  as  he  dared  on  the  uneven  ground;  for 
to  the  east,  as  he  looked  over  his  shoulder,  the 
dark  was  beginning  to  pale.  The  early  summer 
morning  must  be  near  at  hand,  for  when  he  had 
crossed  the  open  there  was  light  enough  for  him 
to  make  out  the  break  in  the  trees  where  the 
bridle  path  wound  down  to  the  ford. 

Hugh  went  in  cautiously,  with  the  reins  taut 
in  his  left  hand  and  his  right  on  his  pistol ;  but 
for  all  that  The  Jade's  feet  splashed  in  the  sloughs 
of  the  pathway  with  a  loudness  that  startled  him. 
He  pulled  up  a  moment  and  listened ;  ahead  he 
could  hear  the  lap,  lap  of  swift  water,  but  for 
the  rest  the  wood  was  silent.  He  was  about  to 
press  the  mare  forward  with  a  touch  of  the  spur, 
when,  flinging  up  her  head,  she  whickered  shrilly. 
Right  upon  that,  somewhere  to  the  front  by  the 
water's  edge,  a  horse  neighed. 

Next  moment  Hugh  felt  the  lash  of  low  boughs 
across  his  neck,  as  he  pulled  The  Jade  round 
with  her  haunches  in  among  the  bushes  by  the 
path.  Spite  of  the  crash  of  the  branches,  and  the 
pounding  of  the  blood  in  his  temples  that  near 


XK  THE  RIDING  OF  ARROW  WATER  317 

deafened  him,  he  caught  the  sound  of  hoof-beats 
on  his  left,  coming  down  on  him  from  the  com- 
mon as  well  as  up  from  the  river.  At  that  he 
urged  The  Jade  forward,  straight  into  the  bushes 
at  the  other  side  of  the  path,  where  the  limbs 
grew  so  low  that  he  bent  down  with  his  bare  head 
pressed  against  her  mane.  For  all  the  hurry  and 
tumult,  his  ears  were  alert,  and  presently  he  heard 
their  horses  crashing  behind  him  among  the  trees 
at  the  right.  Then,  cautiously  as  he  could  pick 
his  way  in  the  gray  dimness,  he  turned  The  Jade's 
head  to  the  common.  Brushing  out  through  the 
last  of  the  oaks  he  faced  southward,  and,  as  he 
did  so,  cast  a  glance  behind  him.  Out  of  the 
shadows  of  the  trees  in  his  rear  he  saw  the  dim 
form  of  a  horseman  take  shape,  and  a  command, 
loud  in  the  hush  of  morning,  reached  him:  "  Halt, 
there !  " 

Hugh  laid  the  spurs  to  The  Jade's  sides  and, 
as  she  ran,  instinctively  bent  himself  forward. 
Behind  him  he  heard  a  shot,  then  the  patter  of 
many  hoofs  upon  the  turf,  and  a  second  shot. 
Right  upon  it  he  felt  a  dull  shock  above  the 
shoulder  blade ;  the  ball  must  have  rebounded 
from  his  cuirass.  After  that  he  was  in  among 
the  trees  once  more ;  through  the  wood  behind 
him  men  were  crashing  and  shouting;  and  even 
such  scant  shelter  as  the  oaks  gave  was  ending, 
as  they  grew  sparser  and  sparser,  till  he  dashed 
into  an  open  stretch  that  sloped  to  the  Arrow. 
To  the  front  he  had  a  dizzy  sight  of  more  horse- 
men straggling  from  cover ;  there  were  two  patrols 
closing  in  on  him,  he  realized,  and  with  that,  jerking 
the  mare  to  the  right,  he  headed  for  the  river. 


3i8  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Before  him  he  could  see  the  slope  of  hillside, 
the  dark  water  under  the  bank  beyond,  even  the 
dusky  sedge  of  the  low  opposite  shore.  He  saw, 
too,  a  horseman,  bursting  out  from  the  trees,  halt 
across  his  path,  but  he  neither  stayed  nor  swerved, 
just  drove  the  spurs  into  The  Jade  and  braced 
himself  for  the  shock.  He  must  have  struck  the 
other  horse  on  the  chest;  he  had  an  instant's 
sight  of  a  trooper's  tense  face  and  a  horse's  sleek 
shoulders,  then  only  black  water  was  before  him 
and  men  behind  him  were  shouting  to  pull  up. 
There  came  a  sickening  sense  of  being  hurled 
from  the  earth;  a  great  splashing  noise  and  spray 
in  his  face.  After  that  was  a  time  of  struggling 
to  free  his  feet  from  the  stirrups,  to  clear  himself 
from  the  frightened  mare ;  all  this  with  water 
choking  and  strangling  him  and  filling  his  ears 
and  beating  down  his  head.  He  had  no  thought 
nor  hope  nor  conscious  plan  of  action,  only  with 
all  the  strength  of  his  body  he  battled  clear  till 
he  found  himself  in  mid-stream,  with  the  current 
tugging  at  his  legs,  and  his  boots  and  cuirass 
dragging  him  down.  Once  his  head  went  under, 
and  he  rose  gasping  to  a  dizzy  sight  of  gray  sky. 
He  struck  out  despairingly  while  he  tried  in  vain 
to  kick  free  from  his  boots.  The  current  was 
twisting  and  tossing  him  helplessly;  he  turned 
on  his  back  a  moment,  and  still  the  sky  was  rush- 
ing past  above  him  and  whirling  as  it  went. 
Above  the  din  of  the  water  he  heard  faint  shouts 
of  men  and  crack  of  musket-shot.  A  base  end 
for  a  soldier,  to  drown  like  a  rat !  he  reflected, 
and  at  the  thought  struck  out  blindly.  The 
water  swept  him  down-stream,  but  he  fought  his 


XDC  THE   RIDING  OF  ARROW  WATER  319 

way  obliquely  shoreward  till  of  a  sudden  he  found 
the  tug  of  the  current  had  abated.  He  could 
rest  an  instant  and  look  to  his  bearings ;  quite 
near  him  lay  the  shore,  a  dark  sweep  of  field  with 
a  hedge  that  ran  down  to  the  water,  and  on  the 
farther  side  the  hedge  he  saw  horsemen  following 
down  the  stream. 

Hugh  struck  out  with  renewed  strength,  till, 
finding  the  bottom  beneath  his  feet  at  last,  he 
splashed  shoreward  on  the  run,  and,  stumbling 
through  the  sedge  and  mire  of  the  margin,  panted 
upward  into  the  field.  Off  to  the  left  were  the 
roofs  of  Kingsford,  so  far  the  current  had  swept 
him,  but  near  at  hand  there  was  no  hiding-place, 
nor  even  a  tree  to  set  his  back  against,  and,  with 
his  boots  heavy  with  water  and  his  breath  ex- 
hausted with  the  past  struggle,  he  had  no  hope 
to  run.  He  halted  where  he  was,  in  the  midst 
of  the  bare  field,  and  pulled  out  his  sword,  just  as 
the  foremost  horseman  cleared  the  hedge  at  a 
leap.  It  was  not  so  dark  but  Hugh  recognized 
the  square  young  figure,  even  before  the  man 
charged  right  upon  him.  "  Good  morrow,  Cousin 
Peregrine,"  he  cried  out,  and  dodged  aside  so  the 
horse  might  not  trample  him.  "  Get  down  and 
fight." 

As  he  spoke  he  made  a  cut  at  the  horse's  flank ; 
then  Peregrine,  crying  out  his  name,  sprang  down 
and  faced  him.  They  were  blade  to  blade  at 
last,  and  at  the  first  blow  the  older  lad  flinched, 
stumbling  back  in  the  long  grass  of  the  field,  and 
Hugh,  with  eyes  on  his  set,  angry  face,  pressed 
after  him.  Horses  were  galloping  nearer  and 
nearer,  men  calling  louder,  but  Hugh  did  not 


320  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

heed ;  for  Peregrine,  mistaking  a  feint  he  made, 
laid  himself  open,  and  he  lunged  forward  at 
him. 

Then  his  sword-arm  was  caught  and  held  fast, 
and  he  was  flung  backward  into  the  grasp  of 
a  couple  of  troopers.  The  man  who  had  first 
seized  him,  a  grim  corporal  in  a  yellow  sash, 
wrenched  the  sword  out  of  his  hand,  and  he 
heard  him  speak  to  Peregrine :  "  Has  the  knave 
done  you  hurt,  sir  ?  " 

Hugh  pulled  himself  together,  though  his 
whole  body  was  still  a-quiver  with  the  action  of 
the  last  moments,  and  looked  about  him.  Yel- 
low-sashed troopers  surrounded  him,  six  or  seven, 
he  judged,  and  a  few  paces  distant  stood  Pere- 
grine, with  his  hand  pressed  to  his  right  forearm. 
"  He  slashed  me  in  the  wrist,"  young  Oldesworth 
broke  out ;  "  I  tripped,  else  he  had  not  done  it." 

"  You  had  not  tripped  if  you  had  stood  your 
ground,"  Hugh  flung  back,  with  an  involuntary 
effort  to  loosen  his  arms  from  the  grasp  of  those 
who  had  seized  him. 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  you  cur ! "  snapped  Pere- 
grine, and  might  have  said  more,  had  there  not 
come  from  across  the  river  a  prolonged  hail. 
One  ran  down  to  the  brink  to  catch  the  words ; 
but  Hugh  had  no  chance  to  listen,  for  at  Pere- 
grine's curt  order  he  was  hustled  upon  one  of  the 
troop  horses.  They  tied  his  hands  behind  him, 
too;  whereat  Hugh  set  his  teeth  and  scowled  in 
silence.  What  would  Peregrine  do  with  him  be- 
fore he  were  done,  he  was  wondering  dumbly, 
when  the  man  from  the  river  came  up  with  the 
report  that  the  captain  bade  to  convey  the  pris- 


XDC  THE   RIDING  OF  ARROW  WATER  321 

oner  to  Everscombe,  and  see  to  it  that  he  did 
not  escape.  "  I'll  see  to  it,"  Peregrine  said 
grimly,  and  got  to  his  saddle,  awkwardly,  because 
of  his  wounded  arm,  that  was  already  staining  a 
rough  bandage  red. 

The  morning  was  breaking  grayly  as  the  little 
squad  turned  westward  through  the  fields,  and  by 
a  hollow  to  the  Kingsford  road.  As  they  de- 
scended into  the  highway,  Hugh  faced  a  little 
about  in  his  saddle,  and  gazed  down  it  toward 
the  village ;  a  rise  in  the  land  shut  the  spot  from 
sight,  but  he  knew  that  yonder  Captain  Gwyeth 
lay,  awaiting  the  message  that  he  was  not  to 
bring.  The  trooper  who  rode  at  his  stirrup  took 
him  roughly  by  the  shoulder  then,  and  made  him 
face  round  to  the  front.  "You  don't  go  to  Kings- 
ford  to-day,  sir,"  he  jeered. 

Hugh  had  not  spirit  even  to  look  at  the  fellow, 
but  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  pommel  of  the  saddle. 
Trees  and  road  he  had  known  slipped  by,  he  was 
aware ;  he  heard  the  horses  stamp  upon  the 
roadway ;  and  he  felt  his  wet  clothes  press  against 
his  body,  and  felt  the  strap  about  his  wrists  cut 
into  the  flesh.  But  nothing  of  all  that  mattered 
as  his  numbed  wits  came  to  the  full  realization 
that  this  was  the  end  of  the  boasting  confidence 
with  which  he  had  set  forth,  and  the  end  of 
his  hope  of  meeting  with  his  father.  The  last 
fight  would  be  fought  without  him,  or  even  now 
Captain  Gwyeth,  ignorant  of  the  aid  that  should 
hurry  to  him,  might  be  putting  himself  into  his 
enemies'  hands.  At  that,  Hugh  tugged  hope- 
lessly at  the  strap,  and  found  a  certain  relief  in 
the  fierce  smarting  of  his  chafed  wrists. 


322  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

Like  an  echo  of  his  thoughts  Peregrine's  voice 
came  at  his  elbow :  "  So  you  were  thinking  to 
reach  Kingsford,  were  you  ? " 

"  I  should  not  be  riding  here  just  for  my  pleas- 
ure," Hugh  replied,  with  a  piteous  effort  to  force 
a  light  tone. 

"'Twould  be  as  well  for  you  if  you  were  less 
saucy,"  his  cousin  said  sternly.  "  You  know  me." 

"  I  know  you  carry  one  mark  of  my  sword  on 
you,"  Hugh  answered,  looking  his  tormentor  in 
the  face,  "  and  if  you'd  not  let  your  troop  come 
aid  you,  you'd  carry  more." 

For  a  moment  he  expected  Peregrine  to  strike 
him ;  then  the  elder  lad  merely  laughed  exasper- 
atingly.  "  You'll  not  talk  so  high  by  to-night," 
he  said,  "  when  you're  fetched  out  to  see  that 
dog  Gwyeth  hanged  up  in  Everscombe  Park." 

"  You'd  best  catch  him  before  you  hang  him," 
Hugh  answered  stoutly,  though  the  heart  within 
him  was  heavy  almost  beyond  endurance.  What 
might  the  Oldesworths  not  do  if  once  they  laid 
hands  on  Captain  Gwyeth  ?  A  prisoner  of  war 
had  no  rights,  Hugh  was  well  aware,  and  so  many 
accidents  could  befall.  He  felt  his  face  must 
show  something  of  his  fear,  and  he  dreaded  lest 
Peregrine  goad  him  into  farther  speech,  and  his 
words  betray  his  wretchedness. 

But  happily  just  there  they  turned  in  between 
the  stone  pillars  of  Everscombe  Park,  and  Pere- 
grine paced  to  the  front  of  his  squad.  Hugh 
listlessly  watched  the  well-remembered  trees  and 
turnings  of  the  avenue,  which  were  clear  to  see 
now  in  the  breaking  dawn.  The  roofs  of  the 
manor  house  showed  in  even  outlines  against 


XDC  THE  RIDING  OF  ARROW  WATER  323 

the  dull  sky,  all  as  he  remembered  it,  only  now 
the  lawn  beneath  the  terrace  was  scarred  with  hoof- 
prints,  and  over  in  the  old  west  wing  the  door 
was  open,  and  a  musketeer  paced  up  and  down 
the  flagstones  before  it.  Heading  thither,  the 
squad  drew  up  before  the  entrance,  and  Hugh, 
haled  unceremoniously  from  the  horse's  back, 
was  jostled  into  the  large  old  hall  of  the  west 
wing,  that  seemed  now  a  guardroom. 

"  How  do  you  like  this  for  a  home-coming, 
cousin?"  Peregrine  asked,  and  Hugh  looked  him 
in  the  eyes  but  answered  nothing.  His  captor 
laughed  and  turned  to  his  troopers.  "  Search 
him  thoroughly  now,"  he  ordered ;  "  then  hold  him 
securely  till  Captain  Oldesworth  comes.  —  And  I 
can  tell  you,  sirrah,"  he  addressed  Hugh  once 
more,  "  you'll  relish  his  conversation  even  less 
than  you  relish  mine." 


CHAPTER  XX 

BENEATH    THE    ROOF   OF    EVERSCOMBE 

THEY  had  searched  Hugh,  thoroughly  and  with 
more  than  necessary  roughness,  and  now  he  was 
permitted  to  drag  on  his  dripping  clothes  again. 
It  was  in  a  long,  narrow  room  at  the  end  of  the 
old  hall,  where  the  ceiling  was  high  and  dark  and 
the  three  tall  windows  set  well  up  from  the  floor. 
A  year  ago  it  had  been  a  closed  and  disused 
apartment,  but  now  a  couple  of  tables  and  some 
stools  were  placed  there ;  Hugh  noted  the  furni- 
ture in  listless  outer  fashion  as  he  sat  wrestling 
on  his  sodden  boots.  For  once  his  captors  had 
taken  their  hands  off  him ;  one  trooper  was 
guarding  the  door  and  another  was  pacing  up 
and  down  beneath  the  windows,  but  the  corporal 
and  the  third  man  stood  within  arm's  reach  of 
him.  When  Hugh  rose  to  his  feet  the  corporal 
made  a  little  movement,  and  he  realized  they 
were  all  alert  for  his  least  suspicious  action, 
"  My  faith,  I'm  not  like  to  get  away  from  the  four 
of  you,"  Hugh  broke  out  in  a  despairing  sort  of 
sullenness.  "  'Tis  only  that  I'd  fain  put  on  my 
coat,  unless  you  claim  that  along  with  my  cuirass 
and  buff  jacket." 

One  bade  him  put  on  and  be  hanged,  and 
Hugh,  having  drawn  on  the  wet  garment,  sat 

324 


CH.  xx    BENEATH  THE  ROOF  OF  EVERSCOMBE    325 

down  again  on  the  stool  by  the  table,  too  utterly 
weary  and  hopeless  to  note  more  than  that  the 
room  was  damp  and  the  chill  of  his  soaked  clothes 
was  striking  to  his  marrow.  With  a  thought  of 
tramping  some  warmth  into  his  body  he  rose 
again,  but  the  corporal  sharply  bade  him  sit  down 
quietly  or  be  tied  down.  Hugh  resumed  his 
place  on  the  stool  with  his  shoulders  against  the 
edge  of  the  table  and  one  ankle  resting  on  the 
other  knee  ;  he  would  gladly  have  swung  round 
and  rested  his  head  upon  the  table,  so  worn-out 
and  faint  he  felt,  only  he  knew  if  he  did  his  cap- 
tors would  think  him  childish  and  frightened. 

Of  a  sudden  he  heard  the  sentinel  at  the  door 
advance  a  step  and  announce  to  the  corporal : 
"  Captain  Oldesworth  has  just  come  into  the 
guardroom,  sir." 

A  queer  tingling  went  through  Hugh's  veins, 
and  upon  it  followed  a  sickening  faintness.  Bring- 
ing both  feet  down  to  the  ground,  he  faced  about 
with  his  clinched  hand  on  the  table  and  his  eyes 
fastened  upon  the  door.  He  knew  now  why  he 
had  not  been  able  to  think,  those  last  moments, 
why  every  humiliation  had  been  scarcely  heeded, 
in  the  expectation  of  this  that  was  before  him. 
He  saw  the  corporal  draw  up  stiff  in  salute,  the 
sentinel  stand  back  from  the  door,  and  then, 
clean-shaven,  set-mouthed  as  ever,  he  saw  Tom 
Oldesworth  stride  in. 

It  had  been  in  Hugh's  mind  to  stand  up  to 
meet  his  uncle,  but  at  the  last  he  dared  not  trust 
his  knees  to  such  a  test.  For  the  moment  the 
old  boyish  fear  o(  the  elder  man,  whose  raillery 
had  cut  him,  whose  blows  had  made  him  flinch, 


326  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

came  back  on  him,  and  he  could  only  stare  at 
him  dumbly. 

"  Tis  not  the  place  I  had  looked  to  find  you, 
nephew,"  Oldesworth  greeted  him,  in  a  tone  that 
though  brusque  was  kindly  enough.  Only  in  the 
hurriedness  of  his  bearing  and  the  eagerness  in 
his  eyes  Hugh  read  no  friendly  presage,  so  he 
let  his  gaze  fall  to  the  table  and  studied  the 
grain  of  the  wood,  while  he  listened  to  the  beat- 
ing of  his  heart  that  vibrated  through  all  his 
body. 

Oldesworth  spoke  a  word  aside  to  the  corporal, 
and  as  the  troopers  drew  to  the  farther  end  of  the 
room  came  and  set  himself  down  opposite  Hugh. 
"  Now  attend  me,  sir,"  he  began  rapidly.  "  By 
your  trappings  you  seem  to  have  learned  some- 
thing of  war ;  then  you  know  how  the  case  stands 
with  you  now  we  have  you  fast.  So  I  trust  you 
will  not  suffer  any  childish  stubbornness  to  vex 
me  or  harm  you." 

Hugh  watched  the  man's  hard  face  with  fas- 
cinated eyes  and  lips  half-opened;  but  found  no 
tongue  to  reply. 

"  You  were  riding  to  Kingsford,"  Oldesworth 
continued,  gazing  at  him  fixedly.  "  You  came 
from  Tamworth,  whither  a  messenger  was  posted 
yesterday.  You  brought  an  answering  message. 
What  was  it  ? " 

Hugh  flung  back  his  head.  "  If  there  be  a 
message,  think  you  I'd  be  such  a  fool  as  to  tell 
it  ? "  he  cried,  in  a  voice  that  was  so  firm  it  made 
him  glad.  After  all,  he  had  no  need  to  fear,  for 
this  was  only  a  man  like  the  rest,  and  he  was  now 
a  man,  too. 


xx      BENEATH  THE  ROOF  OF   EVERSCOMBE     327 

"You  brought  a  message  from  Sir  William 
Pleydall,"  Oldesworth  repeated,  unmoved.  "  He 
is  going  to  send  aid  to  this  man,  is  he  not  ? 
Why,  I  can  read  that  in  your  face,  Hugh.  Aid 
is  coming,  then.  Is  it  to-day  ?  To-morrow  ? 
Answer  me." 

Hugh  met  his  uncle's  gaze  fairly,  with  his  head 
held  a  little  upward  and  his  lips  tight-set  now. 
There  was  nothing  for  him  to  say,  but  he  knew 
they  fought  the  battle  out  betwixt  them  while 
their  glances  met. 

"  So  you're  stubborn,  are  you  ? "  Oldesworth 
said,  rising  to  his  feet.  "  You  young  fool !  Do 
you  think  you  can  set  your  will  against  mine  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  will  not  tell  what  you  ask,"  Hugh 
replied  without  a  tremor. 

Oldesworth  leaned  a  little  forward  with  his  fist 
upon  the  table.  "  I  have  been  waiting  all  my 
manhood  to  take  satisfaction  from  Alan  Gwyeth," 
he  said  slowly.  "  Now  the  opportunity  is  given 
me  do  you  think  I  shall  surfer  a  boy's  obstinacy 
to  hinder  me  ?  I  will  have  that  message.  If 
you'll  not  yield  it  for  the  asking,  why  —  Come, 
come,  speak.  I'd  be  loath  to  hurt  you,  Hugh." 

"  I'd  be  loath  to  have  you,  sir,"  Hugh  replied 
soberly,  though  his  whole  inclination  was  to 
laugh ;  for  now  the  worst  had  come  he  was 
braced  to  meet  it,  and  quite  unafraid. 

Captain  Oldesworth's  jaws  were  set  ominously 
at  that.  "  Corporal,"  he  ordered  sharply,  "  send 
a  man  to  fetch  rope  and  a  piece  of  match." 

With  an  involuntary  start  Hugh  came  to  his 
feet,  for  his  mind  had  jumped  back  to  something 
Butler  had  once  hinted,  —  that  a  length  of  burn- 


328  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

ing  match  tied  between  the  fingers  was  the  surest 
way  to  make  a  dumb  knave  find  his  tongue. 

"  'Tis  no  laughing  matter,  you'll  perceive,"  the 
captain  said,  with  a  trace  of  satisfaction.  "  Now 
you'll  tell  ? " 

Hugh  shook  his  head,  not  looking  at  his  uncle 
but  with  eyes  upon  the  door.  He  saw  it  pushed 
open,  and  then  came  in  the  trooper  with  a  length 
of  rope  in  his  hand,  but  Hugh  scarcely  heeded, 
for  behind  him,  with  an  eager  step,  walked  Pere- 
grine Oldesworth.  After  that  it  did  not  need 
the  tramp  of  the  men  crossing  from  the  other 
end  of  the  room  to  set  every  fibre  of  Hugh's 
body  tense  for  the  coming  struggle.  With  a 
quick  movement  he  swung  about  to  catch  up 
the  stool  he  had  just  quitted ;  Oldesworth  must 
have  stepped  round  the  table  behind  him,  for  he 
blocked  his  way  now,  and  catching  him  by  the 
shoulders  made  him  stand,  for  all  Hugh's  effort 
to  wrench  clear.  "  'Twill  be  no  use  fighting,  my 
lad,"  he  said,  with  something  oddly  like  pity  in  his 
face.  "  Do  as  I  ask  straightway.  You've  done 
all  a  gentleman  need  do.  Tell  me  now  when 
Pleydall  is  coming.  Else  you  go  into  the  hands 
of  Cornet  Oldesworth  and  his  squad  here.  And 
Peregrine  is  keen  for  this  work.  But  tell,  and  no 
one  shall  lay  hand  on  you,  nor  —  " 

"  I  care  not  if  you  kill  me ! "  Hugh  cried 
hoarsely.  . 

"  Have  it  your  way,  then ! "  Oldesworth  re- 
torted, and,  flinging  him  off,  turned  his  back. 
"  Tie  him  up,  lads,"  he  ordered. 

Some  one  griped  his  collar,  Hugh  felt;  there 
was  a  rip  of  cloth,  and  for  a  moment  he  had  torn 


xx      BENEATH  THE   ROOF  OF  EVERSCOMBE     329 

himself  free  and  struck  out  blindly  at  the  mass  of 
them.  They  must  have  tripped  him,  for  he  felt 
the  floor  beneath  his  shoulders ;  but  he  still  had 
hold  on  one  of  them,  and  he  heard  a  shirt  tear 
beneath  his  hands.  There  came  a  dull  pain  be- 
tween his  eyes,  as  if  the  bones  of  the  forehead 
were  bursting  outward,  and  he  made  a  feeble 
effort  to  strike  up  as  he  lay.  Then  the  strug- 
gling was  over ;  he  could  not  even  kick,  for  one 
that  sat  upon  his  legs;  a  man's  knee  was  grind- 
ing down  on  his  back,  and  his  arms  were  forced 
behind  him.  His  face  was  pressed  to  the  floor, 
and  he  could  see  nothing  for  a  blackness  before 
his  eyes,  but  he  heard  Peregrine's  voice,  cool 
and  well-satisfied :  "  He'll  be  quiet  enough  now. 
Here's  the  rope." 

Some  one  else  had  entered  the  room,  Hugh 
realized ;  a  slow  step,  a  pause,  and  then  a  stern 
voice  that  rang  loud :  "  Thomas  Oldesworth ! 
Bid  your  ruffians  take  their  hands  from  your 
sister's  son." 

"Father!"  the  captain's  voice  spoke,  then  after 
an  instant's  blank  pause  ran  on :  "  You  do  not 
understand,  good  sir.  He  —  " 

"  Will  you  stand  arguing  ? "  There  came  a 
noise  as  of  a  staff's  being  struck  upon  the  floor. 
"  Do  I  command  in  this  house,  son  Thomas,  or 
do  you  ?  You  ruffianly  knaves,  up  with  you  all ! " 

They  had  left  him  free,  Hugh  found,  and 
dragging  one  arm  up  to  his  head  he  lay  panting 
desperately,  without  strength  or  heart  to  move. 
"  Help  him  to  his  feet,"  the  stern  voice  spoke 
again.  "  Or  have  you  done  him  serious  hurt  ? " 

They  lifted  him  up,  with  gentler  handling  than 


330  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

they  had  yet  given  him,  and  staggering  a  pace  to 
the  table  he  leaned  against  it.  He  drew  his  hand 
across  his  eyes  unsteadily  to  rub  away  the  black 
spots  that  danced  before  them ;  he  had  a  blurry 
sight,  then,  of  the  troopers  drawn  back  to  the 
windows,  and  of  the  captain  and  Peregrine,  who 
stood  together  with  half-abashed  faces,  for  in  the 
doorway,  leaning  on  his  staff,  was  Master  Gil- 
bert Oldesworth.  "  Get  you  back  to  Kingsford 
and  fight  out  your  fight  with  the  scoundrel  who 
wronged  your  sister,"  he  spoke  again.  "  At  such 
a  time  can  you  find  no  better  task  than  to  mal- 
treat a  boy  ? " 

"  If  you  would  only  pause  to  hear  how  matters 
stand,  sir,"  the  captain  urged,  with  a  visible  effort 
to  maintain  a  respectful  tone.  "  The  lad  holds 
the  information  that  shall  make  us  masters  of  that 
villain  Gwyeth.  If  he  will  not  speak,  though  he 
were  twenty  times  my  nephew,  I'll  —  " 

"  If  he  were  twenty  times  the  meanest  horse- 
boy in  the  king's  camp,  he  should  not  be  put  to 
torture  beneath  my  roof,"  Master  Oldesworth 
answered  grimly.  "  Come  here  to  me,  Hugh 
Gwyeth." 

Wondering  dully  why  all  the  strength  had  gone 
out  of  his  body,  Hugh  stumbled  across  the  room 
and  pitched  up  against  the  wall  beside  his  grand- 
father. He  noted  now  that  his  shirt  was  torn 
open,  and  drawing  his  coat  together  he  tried  to 
fasten  it ;  his  fingers  shook  unsteadily,  and  the 
buttons  were  hard  to  find.  He  felt  his  grand- 
father's hand  placed  firmly  on  his  shoulder.  "  I 
think  you  have  mishandled  this  gentleman  enough 
to  satisfy  you,"  the  old  man  spoke  contempts 


xx      BENEATH  THE   ROOF  OF   EVERSCOMBE     331 

ously.  "  Henceforth  you  will  merely  hold  him  as 
a  prisoner  taken  in  honorable  war.  And  I  shall 
myself  be  responsible  for  his  custody." 

"  My  good  father,"  Captain  Oldesworth  broke 
out,  "  I  cannot  surfer  him  to  pass  from  my  keep- 
ing. My  responsibility  to  the  state  —  " 

"  Will  you  school  me,  Thomas?  "  Master  Oldes- 
worth cut  him  short.  "  I  am  neither  bed-ridden 
nor  brain-sick  that  you  should  try  to  dictate  to 
me  now.  But  I  will  advise  you,  sir,  that  there 
are  decencies  to  be  observed  even  in  war,  and 
there  are  those  in  authority  would  make  you 
to  smart  if  ever  they  got  knowledge  of  this  you 
purposed.  Lift  your  hand  against  my  grandson, 
and  this  day's  work  comes  to  their  ears." 

Then  the  grasp  on  Hugh's  shoulder  tightened, 
and  submissively  he  walked  at  his  grandfather's 
side  out  into  the  guardroom.  Those  loitering 
there  drew  back  to  make  way  for  them,  he 
judged  by  the  sound  of  footsteps,  but  he  had  not 
spirit  even  to  look  up.  By  the  difference  of  the 
oak  planking  of  the  floors  he  perceived  they  were 
entering  the  passage  that  led  to  the  main  build- 
ing, when  he  felt  a  firmer  grip  close  on  his  arm 
and  heard  the  voice  of  the  Roundhead  corporal : 
"  I  crave  your  pardon,  sir.  The  captain  bade  me 
see  the  prisoner  safely  locked  up." 

"  No  need,"  Master  Oldesworth  spoke  curtly, 
and  then  addressed  Hugh:  "You  will  give  me 
your  parole  not  to  attempt  an  escape." 

Hugh  looked  up  helplessly  into  his  grand- 
father's stern  face,  and  felt  the  grasp  of  the  cor- 
poral press  upon  his  arm.  His  breath  came  hard 
like  a  sob,  but  he  managed  to  force  out  his  an- 


332  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

swer:  "I  cannot,  sir,  I  cannot.  You'd  better 
thrust  me  back  into  my  uncle's  hands.  I  cannot 
promise." 

He  was  trying  to  nerve  himself  to  be  dragged 
back  to  the  chamber  behind  the  guardroom,  but 
though  Master  Oldesworth's  face  grew  harder, 
he  only  said,  "  Bring  him  along  after  me,"  and  led 
the  way  down  the  passage. 

Hugh  followed  unsteadily,  glad  of  the  grasp  on 
his  arm  that  helped  to  keep  him  erect.  They 
had  entered  the  east  wing,  he  noted  listlessly; 
then  he  was  trudging  up  the  long  staircase  and 
stumbling  down  the  corridor.  At  the  first  win- 
dow recess  he  saw  Master  Oldesworth  halt  and 
heard  him  speak  less  curtly :  "  I  have  indeed  to 
thank  you,  mistress."  Raising  his  eyes  as  he 
passed,  Hugh  saw  that  by  the  window,  with 
hands  wrung  tight  together,  Lois  Campion  was 
standing. 

Instinctively  he  tried  to  halt,  but  the  grip  on 
his  arm  never  relaxed,  and  he  must  come  on  at 
his  captor's  side,  down  to  the  end  of  the  corridor. 
There  Master  Oldesworth  had  flung  open  a  door 
into  a  tiny  chamber,  with  one  high,  narrow  slit  of 
a  window,  bare  of  furniture  save  for  a  couple  of 
chests  and  a  broken  chair,  over  which  the  dust 
lay  thick.  "  Since  you  will  have  no  better  lodg- 
ing, you  shall  stay  here,"  he  said  coldly. 

Dragging  his  way  in,  Hugh  flung  himself  down 
on  a  chest  with  his  head  in  his  hands.  "  Could 
you  let  me  have  a  drink  of  water,  sir? "  he  asked 
faintly. 

"  Go  to  my  chamber  and  fetch  the  flask  of 
Spanish  wine,  Lois,"  Master  Oldesworth  bade, 


xx      BENEATH  THE   ROOF   OF   EVERSCOMBE     333 

and  Hugh  heard  the  girl's  footsteps  die  away  in 
the  corridor,  then  heard  or  heeded  nothing,  just 
sat  with  his  face  hidden. 

A  touch  on  the  shoulder  roused  him  at  last ;  he 
took  the  glass  of  wine  his  grandfather  offered  him 
and  slowly  drank  it  down.  They  were  alone  in 
the  room  now,  he  noted  as  he  drank,  the  door 
was  drawn  to,  and  Lois  was  gone.  He  set  down 
the  empty  glass  and  leaned  forward  with  his 
elbows  on  his  knees.  "  I  thank  you,  sir,  for  this, 
for  all  you  have  saved  me  from,"  he  said  slowly. 

"  You  might  thank  me  for  more,  if  you  were 
less  self-willed." 

"  Tis  not  from  self-will,  sir,  I  did  as  I  have 
done,  that  I  refused  my  parole,"  Hugh  broke  out, 
"  'tis  for  my  father.  I  cannot  bind  myself.  I 
must  go  to  him.  I  —  " 

"  No  more  words  of  that  man,"  Master  Oldes- 
worth  silenced  him.  "  You  shall  never  go  to  him 
again.  A  year  ago  I  dealt  not  wisely  with  you. 
I  gave  you  choice  where  you  were  too  young  to 
choose.  For  all  your  folly  there  are  parts  in  you 
too  good  for  me  to  suffer  you  destroy  yourself. 
Now  where  I  let  you  walk  at  your  will  I  shall  see 
to  it  that  you  keep  the  right  path,  by  force,  if  you 
drive  me  to  it.  For  the  present  I  shall  hold 
you  in  safe  custody  at  Everscombe.  Later,  as 
you  conduct  yourself,  I  shall  determine  what 
course  to  take." 

"  But  my  father !  "  Hugh  cried. 

"  Captain  Oldesworth  will  deal  with  Alan 
Gwyeth,"  Master  Oldesworth  replied.  "  Do  you 
forget  him." 

"I  can  never  forget  him,  sir.     Sure,  I'd  liefer 


334  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

be  hanged  with  him  than  be  saved  apart  from  him 
thus.  I  —  " 

The  door  closed  jarringly  behind  Master 
Oldesworth,  the  key  grated  in  the  lock,  and  the 
bolt  was  shot  creakingly. 

For  a  time  Hugh  sat  staring  stupidly  at  the 
door  of  his  prison,  then,  getting  slowly  to  his  feet, 
he  began  dragging  and  shoving  the  chest  beneath 
the  window.  His  hands  were  still  unsteady  and 
he  felt  limp  and  weak,  so  again  and  again  he  must 
pause  to  sit  down.  The  little  room  was  close  and 
hot ;  the  perspiration  prickled  on  the  back  of  his 
neck,  and  stung  above  his  eyebrows.  The  move- 
ment of  the  chest  cleared  a  white  space  on  the 
gray  floor,  and  the  dust  that  rose  thick  sifted  into 
his  mouth  and  nostrils  till  he  was  coughing  pain- 
fully with  a  miserable  feeling  that  it  needed  but 
little  for  the  coughing  to  end  in  sobbing.  He 
hated  himself  for  his  weakness,  and,  gritting  his 
teeth,  shoved  the  chest  the  more  vigorously  till  at 
last  it  was  in  position  beneath  the  window.  Lift- 
ing the  one  chair  upon  it,  he  mounted  up  pre- 
cariously ;  the  sill  of  the  window  came  level  with 
his  collar  bone  while  the  top  grazed  his  forehead. 
He  stretched  up  his  arms  and  measured  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  opening  twice  over,  but  he 
knew  it  was  quite  hopeless ;  there  was  no  getting 
through  that  narrow  window,  and,  had  it  been 
possible,  he  must  risk  a  sheer  fall  of  two  stories 
to  the  flagged  walk  below.  For  a  moment  he 
stood  blinking  out  at  the  green  branches  of  the 
elms  that  swayed  before  his  window,  then  he 
dropped  to  the  floor  again  and  sat  down  on  the 
chest  with  his  face  in  his  hands. 


xx      BENEATH  THE   ROOF   OF   EVERSCOMBE     335 

So  he  was  still  sitting,  when  the  door  was  un- 
locked and  one  of  the  serving  men  of  the  house- 
hold came  in  to  fetch  him  dinner.  Hugh  looked 
up,  and,  recognizing  the  fellow,  would  have  spoken, 
but  the  man  only  shook  his  head  and  backed  out 
hastily.  Hugh  noted  that  it  was  no  trooper's 
rations  they  had  sent  him,  but  food  from  his 
grandfather's  table;  still  he  had  no  heart  to  eat, 
though  he  drank  eagerly,  till  presently  he  rea- 
soned this  was  weak  conduct,  for  he  must  keep  up 
strength  if  he  were  ever  to  come  out  of  his  captors' 
hands,  so,  drawing  the  plate  to  him,  he  resolutely 
swallowed  down  a  tolerable  meal. 

Then  he  set  himself  to  watch  the  motes  dance 
in  a  sunbeam  that  ran  well  up  toward  the  ceiling, 
but  presently  it  went  out  altogether.  He  leaned 
back  then  on  the  chest  where  he  sat,  and  perhaps 
had  lost  himself  a  time  in  a  numb,  half-waking 
sleep,  when  of  a  sudden  he  caught  a  distant  sound 
that  brought  him  to  his  feet.  He  could  not  mis- 
take it;  off  to  the  east  where  Kingsford  lay  he 
could  hear  the  faint  crack  of  musketry  fired  in 
volleys.  Hugh  cried  out  something  in  a  hoarse 
voice  he  did  not  recognize;  then  he  was  wrench- 
ing at  the  latch  and  hammering  on  the  door  with 
his  clinched  hands,  while  he  shrieked  to  them  to 
let  him  go.  He  saw  the  blood  smearing  out  from 
his  knuckles,  but  he  beat  on  against  the  unshaken 
panels  till  the  strength  left  him  and  he  dropped 
down  on  the  floor.  Still,  as  he  lay,  he  could  hear 
the  distant  firing,  and  then  he  ground  his  face 
down  between  his  hands  and  cried  as  he  had 
never  cried  before  with  great  sobs  that  seemed 
to  tear  him. 


336  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

Afterward  there  came  a  long  time  when  he  had 
not  strength  even  to  sob,  when  the  slackening  fire 
meant  nothing  to  him,  and,  lying  motionless  and 
stupid,  he  realized  only  that  the  light  was  paling 
in  the  chamber.  The  door  was  pushed  open,  and 
mechanically  he  rolled  a  little  out  of  the  way  of 
it.  The  serving  man  he  remembered  came  in 
with  supper,  and  at  sight  of  him  Hugh  lifted  up 
his  head  and  entreated  brokenly :  "  Tell  me,  what 
has  happened?  Have  they  taken  my  father?  For 
the  love  of  Heaven,  tell  me." 

The  man  hesitated,  then,  as  he  passed  to  the 
doorway,  bent  down  and  whispered :  "  They've 
beat  the  Cavaliers  into  the  church,  sir,  but  they've 
not  taken  the  captain  yet.  Lord  bless  you,  don't 
cry  so,  sir." 

For  the  sheer  nervous  relief  had  set  Hugh  chok- 
ing and  sobbing  again  without  pride  or  strength 
enough  left  to  hold  himself  in  check.  As  the 
darkness  closed  in,  however,  he  grew  a  little 
calmer,  though  sheer  exhaustion  more  than  in- 
ner comfort  held  him  quiet.  His  eyes  were  hot 
and  smarting,  and  his  throat  ached,  so  he  crept 
over  to  the  chest  where  the  food  was  placed,  and 
laying  hands  on  a  jug  of  water  gulped  down  a  good 
deal  and  splashed  some  over  his  face.  After  that 
he  stretched  himself  again  upon  the  floor,  where 
for  pure  weariness  he  dropped  at  length  into  a 
heavy  sleep. 

He  awoke  in  darkness,  his  blood  tingling  and 
his  pulses  a-jump  in  a  childish  momentary  fear  at 
the  strangeness  of  the  place  and  a  something  else 
he  could  not  define.  He  had  recollected  his 
position  and  laid  down  his  head  again,  with  a 


xx      BENEATH  THE  ROOF  OF   EVERSCOMBE     337 

little  effort  to  place  himself  more  comfortably 
upon  the  floor,  when  there  came  a  second  time 
the  noise  that  must  have  wakened  him,  —  a  stealthy 
faint  click  of  the  latch,  as  if  the  door  were  being 
softly  opened.  Hugh  sprang  to  his  feet  and  set 
his  back  to  the  wall,  in  the  best  position  for  de- 
fence, if  it  were  some  enemy,  if  it  were  Captain 
Oldesworth  came  seeking  him.  The  door  was 
opening,  he  perceived,  as  his  eyes  grew  accus- 
tomed to  the  darkness.  "  Who  is  it  ?  "  he  asked 
in  a  guarded  tone. 

"Hush!    Tis  I,  Lois." 

Hugh  caught  his  breath  in  a  gasp  of  relief. 
"  Lois,  you've  come  to  free  me  ? "  he  whispered, 
and,  stepping  softly  to  her,  fumbled  in  the  dark 
and  found  her  hand. 

"  Yes,  yes.  I  was  afraid  for  you.  I  told  Master 
Oldesworth  that  Peregrine  was  bragging  how  the 
captain  would  serve  you.  He  saved  you  that  time. 
But  'tis  possible  the  captain  will  lay  hands  on  you 
again.  I  slipped  into  Master  Oldesworth's  cham- 
ber and  took  the  key.  I  know  'tis  wicked ;  I  care 
not.  Pull  off  your  boots  and  come  away,  quick." 

Noiselessly  as  he  could,  Hugh  got  his  boots  in 
his  hand  and  in  his  stockinged  feet  stole  out  of 
the  chamber.  In  the  corridor  it  was  all  black  and 
still,  just  as  it  had  been  that  other  time  when 
he  ran  from  Everscombe,  only  now  Lois  was  with 
him,  and  when  the  stairs  creaked  they  pressed 
close  together.  Then  she  went  forward  boldly, 
and  he,  still  half-blinded  with  sleep,  was  content 
to  follow  the  guidance  of  her  hand.  "  In  here," 
she  whispered  at  length,  and  so  led  him  into  the 
east  parlor,  where  the  great  clock  still  ticked, 


338  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

solemn  and  unperturbed.  "  Go  out  at  the  window," 
Lois  spoke  softly ;  "  I  dare  not  open  the  door. 
There  are  a  few  men  in  the  house,  but  they  lie 
in  the  west  wing  and  the  stables.  The  bulk  are 
at  Kingsford.  Northward  you  will  find  the  way 
clear." 

"  I  am  not  going  northward,"  Hugh  answered, 
as  he  warily  pushed  open  the  casement.  "  I  go 
to  my  father  now." 

"Hugh!"  The  girl's  voice  came  in  a  fright- 
ened gasp.  "  I  had  not  released  you  —  If  you 
come  unto  them  at  last  —  They  wish  it  not  — 
You  may  be  killed !  You  shall  not  do  this 
thing." 

Leaning  from  the  casement  Hugh  dropped  his 
boots  carefully  where  the  dark  showed  an  edge  of 
grass  bordered  the  flagged  walk ;  as  he  set  him- 
self astride  the  window  ledge  he  spoke :  "  'Tis 
just  the  thing  I  shall  do,  Lois,  and  the  only 
thing.  If  you  be  sorry  for  what  you  did,  call,  if 
you  will,  but  I  shall  jump  and  run  for  it." 

"  I  shall  not  call,"  she  answered.  "  Oh,  I  care 
not  who  has  the  right  and  wrong  of  the  war.  I 
cannot  bear  they  should  hurt  you." 

She  was  kneeling  on  the  window-bench  with 
her  face  close  to  his ;  he  suddenly  bent  forward 
and  kissed  her.  "  God  bless  you  for  this,  Lois," 
he  said. 

Then  he  swung  himself  over  the  window  ledge, 
and  letting  his  weight  come  on  his  hands  dropped 
noiselessly  to  the  walk  below.  He  dragged  on 
his  boots,  and  taking  a  cautious  step  across  the 
flagstones  slid  down  the  terrace  to  the  lawn. 
Once  more  he  glanced  back,  not  at  Everscombe 


xx      BENEATH  THE   ROOF  OF  EVERSCOMBE     339 

manor  house,  but  at  the  opened  window  of  the 
east  parlor.  It  was  too  dark  more  than  to  dis- 
tinguish the  outline  of  the  casement,  but  he 
knew  that  at  the  lattice  Lois  was  still  standing 
to  wish  him  God  speed  to  his  father. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

THE    FATHERHOOD    OF   ALAN    GWYETH 

THE  sky  was  bluish  black  with  heavy  masses 
of  clouds,  but  through  a  rift  in  the  west  showed 
a  bright  star,  by  which  Hugh  guessed  roughly  it 
must  be  within  two  hours  of  dawn.  Quickening 
his  pace  to  a  run  at  that,  he  came  into  the  shelter 
of  the  park,  where  it  was  all  black,  and  he  went 
forward  blindly,  with  one  arm  thrust  up  to  guard 
his  face.  Now  and  again  he  had  through  the 
tree-tops  a  distant  sight  of  the  sky,  and  by  it  took 
his  directions ;  but  for  the  most  part  he  stumbled 
on  haphazard,  though  at  a  brisk  pace,  for  the 
night  was  passing  rapidly.  When  at  length  he 
crushed  his  way  through  a  thicket  to  the  edge  of 
the  brook  that  marked  the  bounds  of  the  park, 
the  bright  western  star  had  sunk  out  of  sight  be- 
hind the  trees. 

Beyond  the  brook  he  hurried  through  a  tract 
of  woodland,  where  he  bore  to  the  southward  to 
keep  clear  of  the  Kingsford  highway  and  a  farm- 
stead that  lay  back  from  it.  He  came  out  in  a 
cornfield,  where  the  blades  felt  damp  against  his 
face  as  he  forced  a  rustling  passage  through,  and 
after  that  climbed  over  a  wall  into  the  open  fields. 
There  were  no  more  houses  to  avoid  before 
he  reached  the  village,  so  with  less  caution  he 

340 


CH.  xxi  THE  FATHERHOOD  OF  ALAN  GWYETH    341 

pressed  on  at  a  good  jog-trot.  For  the  night  was 
waning,  and  Kingsford  was  still  to  come. 

An  ominous  pale  streak  showed  in  the  east  be- 
fore him  as  he  climbed  the  swell  of  land  that  cut 
off  sight  of  the  village.  Fearing  lest  his  figure 
show  up  too  distinctly  against  the  sky  line,  he 
made  for  a  clump  of  bushes  at  the  summit,  and 
had  just  got  within  their  shadow  when  he  caught 
the  sound  of  hoof-beats.  Dropping  flat  he  dragged 
himself  in  under  the  bushes,  where,  peering  out 
between  the  leaves,  he  saw  the  black  bulk  of  a 
horseman  ride  along  the  slope  below  him.  A 
little  to  Hugh's  left  he  pulled  up  and  called  to 
another  rider  a  challenge  that  reached  the  boy's 
ears  quite  clearly,  then  turned  and  came  pacing 
back. 

They  had  set  a  mounted  guard  about  the  town, 
then ;  and  with  that  Hugh  told  himself  he  must 
slip  past  it  and  quickly,  too,  or  the  dawn  would 
be  upon  him.  But  first  he  waited  for  the  horse- 
man's return,  to  know  what  was  the  time  between 
his  passing  and  repassing,  and  while  he  waited 
he  strained  his  eyes  into  the  dark  to  get  the  lay 
of  the  land.  At  the  foot  of  the  rising  ground  was 
a  hollow,  he  remembered,  and  across  it,  on  the 
higher  land,  stood  an  irregular  line  of  three  cot- 
tages, beyond  which  ran  a  lane  that  led  by  the 
side  wall  of  the  churchyard.  Very  likely  troops 
were  lodged  about  the  cottages  now,  perhaps  even 
more  patrols  in  the  hollow,  but  all  he  could  see 
was  the  black  depths  beneath  him  and  the  outline 
of  the  nearest  cottage.  Then  he  heard  the  sound 
of  hoofs  loud  again,  as  once  more  the  horseman 
on  guard  rode  by  below.  Hugh  could  make  out 


342  HUGH  GWYETH  ca 

his  form  far  too  clearly ;  dawn  was  coming,  and 
he  durst  stay  no  longer. 

So  soon  as  the  man  had  turned  and  paced  a  rod 
on  his  journey  back,  Hugh  crawled  from  beneath 
the  bushes  and,  rolling  noiselessly,  creeping  on 
hands  and  knees,  made  his  way  down  the  hillside. 
He  remembered  afterward  the  feel  of  the  moist 
grass  in  his  hands,  the  look  of  the  mottled  dark 
sky  and  the  faint  stars,  and  how  at  a  distant  hail 
in  the  village  he  pressed  flat  on  the  cold  ground. 
But  at  last  he  crawled  across  a  more  level  space 
he  judged  the  bridle  path,  and  scrambled  down 
into  the  depth  of  the  hollow,  where  a  chilly  mist 
set  him  shivering.  As  he  lay  outstretched,  rest- 
ing his  weary  arms  a  moment,  he  heard  up  above 
him  the  horseman  ride  by. 

Now  that  he  was  within  the  lines  of  the  patrol 
only  caution  and  quickness  were  necessary.  Still 
on  hands  and  knees,  he  dragged  himself  slowly 
up  the  hillside,  bearing  ever  to  the  south  to  get 
behind  the  cottages,  yet  not  daring  to  venture  too 
far,  lest  he  come  upon  another  line  of  guards.  As 
he  approached  the  first  cottage  he  rose  half  erect 
and  tried  a  short  run,  but  the  bark  of  a  dog  made 
him  drop  flat  in  the  grass,  where  he  lay  trem- 
bling. Next  instant,  realizing  that  it  was  better 
to  push  on,  whatever  befell,  he  sprang  up  and 
made  a  dash  to  the  cover  of  a  hedge  behind  the 
second  cottage.  For  now  the  protection  of  the 
night  had  nearly  left  him ;  he  could  see  clearly 
the  lattices  of  the  cottage,  the  whitish  line  of  high- 
way beyond  it,  and  others  might  see  him  as  well. 
But  as  he  crept  forward,  keeping  to  the  shelter  of 
the  hedge,  he  looked  up,  and  against  the  gray  sky 


xxi      THE   FATHERHOOD  OF  ALAN   GWYETH      343 

saw  what  gave  him  courage.  Above  the  farther 
cottage  rose  the  church  tower,  and  from  it  stood 
up  a  staff  on  which  fluttered  a  red  flag  with  a 
splotch  of  gold  upon  it ;  Captain  Gwyeth  and  his 
men  still  were  holding  out. 

With  renewed  hope  Hugh  worked  his  way 
past  the  hedge  to  the  shelter  of  an  outbuilding, 
not  a  rod  from  the  lane  that  ran  white  beneath 
the  lich  wall.  He  could  see  the  church  clearly 
now,  the  scowling  small  windows,  the  close  side 
door,  and  the  gravestones  on  the  slope  below. 
There  was  little  prospect  of  welcome,  he  was 
reckoning  anxiously,  as  he  lay  crouched  against 
the  outbuilding,  when  suddenly  he  heard  a  cry : 
"  Stand,  there ! "  Off  to  his  right  in  the  lane  he 
beheld  a  Roundhead  sentinel  halted  with  his 
piece  levelled. 

Springing  to  his  feet  Hugh  dashed  across  the 
grass  plot  to  the  lane.  On  the  left  he  heard 
hoof-beats,  then  a  cry :  "  Shoot  him  down !  "  A 
bullet  struck  the  sand  at  his  feet ;  he  heard  men 
running,  and  another  shot.  He  heard,  too,  the 
crunch  of  crisp  weeds  beneath  his  boots  as  he 
crashed  into  the  overgrown  tangle  beyond  the 
lane.  He  felt  the  rough  stones  on  the  top  of 
the  wall,  then  he  had  flung  himself  clear  across 
it,  and  was  struggling  up  the  slope  among  the 
graves.  His  boots  were  heavy  and  hampered 
him,  and  his  breath  seemed  gone.  He  looked 
up  to  the  dead  windows  of  the  church  and  tried 
to  cry :  "  King's  men  !  To  the  rescue !  "  but 
what  sound  he  could  make  was  lost  in  the  din 
behind  him.  A  bullet  struck  on  a  headstone  just 
to  one  side;  then  of  a  sudden  came  a  numbing 


344  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

pain  in  his  left  arm.  He  staggered,  stumbled 
blindly  a  pace ;  then  the  sky  was  rolled  up  like  a 
gray  scroll,  the  stars  were  dancing  before  his 
eyes,  and  he  was  down  flat  upon  the  ground. 
Lifting  his  head  dizzily  he  had  a  dim  sight  of  the 
lane  below,  men  swarming  from  the  cottages,  and 
one  he  saw  leap  the  wall  and  come  running 
toward  him.  Hugh's  head  dropped  back  on  the 
ground;  he  saw  the  sky  pale  above  and  waited 
for  the  butt  of  his  pursuer's  musket  to  crash  down 
upon  him,  and  prayed  it  might  not  be  long  to 
wait. 

They  were  still  firing,  he  heard ;  and  he  heard, 
too,  quick  footsteps  behind  him  and  a  man  breath- 
ing fast.  He  was  swung  up  bodily  from  the 
ground,  and  there  came  a  voice  he  knew:  "  Your 
arm  round  my  neck,  so.  Have  no  fear,  Hugh; 
I've  got  you  safe." 

There  was  firing  still  and  faint  cheering;  the 
rest  darkness ;  but  before  it  closed  in  on  him 
Hugh  had  one  blurred  glimpse  of  a  strong,  blue- 
eyed  face  above  him,  and  he  knew  it  was  his 
father  who  held  him. 

The  light  returned  to  Hugh  in  a  dim  and  un- 
familiar place;  high  above  him,  as  he  lay  on  his 
back,  he  had  sight  of  a  vaulted  roof  full  of  shadows. 
His  head  felt  heavy  and  dazed,  so  he  did  not  care 
to  stir  or  speak,  just  closed  his  eyes  again.  There 
had  been  faces  about  him,  he  remembered  vaguely, 
and  he  felt  no  surprise  when  he  heard  a  voice 
that  was  unmistakably  Ridydale's :  "  He's  com- 
ing round,  sir." 

They  were  pressing  a  wet  cloth  to  his  forehead, 
Hugh  judged,  and  his  head  was  aching  so  he  tried 


xxi      THE   FATHERHOOD   OF  ALAN   GWYETH     345 

to  thrust  up  his  arm  to  stop  them.  "  Let  —  me  — • 
alone,"  he  forced  the  words  out  faintly,  and  opened 
his  eyes.  It  was  his  father  who  was  bathing  his 
head,  he  saw,  and  remembering  what  brought 
him  thither  his  mind  went  back  to  the  formal 
message  he  had  framed  on  the  way  from  Tarn- 
worth.  "Captain  Gwyeth,  Sir  William  Pleydall 
bade  me  deliver  word,  he  will  send  you  relief ;  it 
shall  come  to-morrow." 

"  Saxon,  take  that  word  to  Lieutenant  von 
Holzberg,"  Captain  Gwyeth 's  voice  came  curtly. 
"  Spread  it  through  the  troop  that  help  is  com- 
ing.—  Spare  farther  speaking  now,  Hugh;  I 
understand." 

Hugh  closed  his  eyes  heavily  and  lay  quiet. 
He  felt  a  wet  cloth  tied  round  his  head,  and  then 
he  winced  through  all  his  body  as  a  knife  ripped 
halfway  up  his  sleeve.  "  Thank  Heaven,  'tis  only 
a  clean  flesh  wound,"  he  heard  the  captain  say. 
"  Nay,  Jack,  I'll  hold  him.  Do  you  bandage  it." 

Hugh  felt  himself  lifted  up  till  his  head  rested 
against  the  captain's  shoulder.  Half  opening  his 
eyes  he  had  a  confused  sight  down  the  nave  of 
the  church,  only  now  it  seemed  unfamiliar,  for 
the  pews  were  torn  from  their  places  and  piled 
up  against  the  great  entrance  door.  Up  and 
down  by  the  walls  men  were  pacing,  and  some 
lay  silent  on  the  floor  of  the  choir,  and  some  he 
heard  groaning  as  they  lay.  Then  he  closed  his 
eyes  and  clinched  his  teeth,  for  his  arm  was  ach- 
ing rarely,  so  the  lightest  touch  made  him  shrink. 
He  wondered  if  the  bandages  they  were  putting 
on  would  never  end,  and  if  he  could  keep  on  bit- 
ing down  all  sign  of  pain,  when  at  last  Ridydale 


346  HUGH  GWYETH  ca 

spoke :  "  There,  sir,  'tis  done  the  best  I  could. 
If  we  only  had  water  to  wash  the  hurt  properly !  " 

That  suggested  to  Hugh  that  his  mouth  was 
dry,  so  he  said  under  his  breath :  "  I  am  thirsty." 

"  If  there  be  a  drop  of  water  in  the  place,  fetch 
it,"  Captain  Gwyeth  bade;  and  a  moment  later 
Hugh's  head  was  lifted  up  and  a  cup  set  to  his 
lips.  It  was  brackish  water,  and  very  little  at 
that;  he  swallowed  it  with  one  gulp,  and  opened 
his  eyes  to  look  for  more.  "  Nay,  that's  the  last," 
the  captain  spoke  out.  "  'Tis  an  ill  lodging  you 
have  taken  with  us.  I  would  to  God  you  were 
elsewhere ! " 

With  the  scant  power  of  his  returning  strength, 
Hugh  tried  to  move  clear  of  the  arm  that  was 
about  him.  "  I  had  hoped,  this  time,  you  would 
not  be  sorry  to  see  me,"  he  broke  out,  in  a  voice 
that  quavered  in  spite  of  himself. 

He  heard  the  captain  give  a  sharp  order  to 
Ridydale  to  be  off,  and  he  felt  it  was  to  save  the 
dignity  which  had  almost  slipped  from  him.  He 
put  his  head  down  on  the  captain's  shoulder 
again.  "  Father,  you  are  glad  to  have  me,  after 
all,"  he  said  softly. 

He  felt  the  sudden  tension  of  the  arm  that 
drew  him  closer,  though  when  Captain  Gwyeth 
spoke,  his  tone  was  of  the  driest:  "After  the 
trouble  I've  had  to  get  hold  of  you,  do  you  not 
think  'tis  reasonable  I  should  be  glad  ? "  Then 
he  cut  short  all  response  with  a  hasty :  "  Lie  you 
down  here  now  and  be  quiet.  You've  been 
knocked  just  enough  for  you  to  make  a  fool  of 
yourself  if  you  try  to  talk." 

Hugh  grinned  weakly,  and  suffered  his  father  to 


xxi      THE   FATHERHOOD   OF  ALAN   GWYETH     347 

put  him  down  with  his  head  upon  a  folded  cloak. 
"  I'll  send  Ridydale  to  have  an  eye  to  you,"  the 
captain  said  in  a  low  tone,  "  and  if  anything  hap- 
pens, I'll  be  near."  Then  he  rose  and  tramped 
away  down  the  nave  of  the  church,  but  Hugh, 
watching  him  through  half-shut  eyes,  saw  him 
halt  to  glance  back. 

After  that  Hugh  lay  a  long  time  in  a  heavy, 
half-waking  state,  where  he  listened  to  the  slow 
pacing  up  and  down  of  those  about  him  who  kept 
guard,  and  to  the  quicker  step  of  men  who,  on  other 
errands,  hastened  across  the  reechoing  church ; 
he  heard  men  shout  orders  across  the  aisles  or 
nearer  to  him  speak  in  curt  monosyllables ;  and 
he  heard,  too,  all  the  time,  the  labored  groaning 
of  one  who  must  lie  somewhere  near.  Then 
there  were  moments  when,  losing  all  sounds,  he 
drifted  off  into  an  unknown  world,  where  he  lived 
over  again  the  happenings  of  the  last  hours,  and 
struggled  in  the  water  of  the  Arrow,  and  fought 
Oldesworth's  troopers,  and  made  the  last  run 
through  the  churchyard  under  the  Roundhead 
fire. 

It  was  a  relief  to  come  back  to  consciousness 
and  find  himself  lying  comfortably  on  the  floor 
of  the  choir  with  the  dark  roof  far  above  him. 
A  glint  of  purple  sunlight  from  a  broken  window 
wavered  on  the  ground  beside  him,  and,  forcing 
his  mind  to  follow  one  train  of  thought,  he  con- 
trived at  last  to  reason  out  that  it  must  be  past 
noon.  Pulling  himself  up  on  his  sound  arm,  he 
tried  to  look  about  the  church,  but  the  effort 
made  his  head  ache  so  he  was  glad  to  lie  down. 
But  he  had  got  sight  of  Ridydale,  who  stood  on 


348  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

a  bench  beneath  one  of  the  tall  windows  in  speech 
with  a  trooper,  and  after  a  moment's  rest  he  called 
the  corporal  by  name. 

Ridydale  stepped  down,  carabine  in  hand,  and 
came  to  Hugh's  side.  "  Is  there  anything  you'll 
be  wanting,  sir  ?  "  he  began. 

"Yes,"  Hugh  replied,  "I'd  take  it  kindly  of 
you  if  you'd  just  tell  me  what  hit  me  that  time." 

Ridydale  grinned  and  settled  himself  close  by 
on  the  steps  of  the  altar  with  his  carabine  across 
his  knees.  "  'Tis  all  very  simple,  Master  Hugh," 
he  explained.  "  They  wasted  a  deal  of  lead  try- 
ing to  wing  you,  —  they're  clumsy  marksmen, 
those  Roundhead  cowherds.  Somehow,  by  good 
luck,  they  contrived  to  shoot  you  in  the  arm.  I 
take  it  you  stumbled  on  one  of  those  sunken 
stones,  then,  for  you  went  down  and  broke  your 
head  against  another  gravestone." 

"  Was  that  it  ?  "  Hugh  asked,  in  some  mortifica- 
tion. 

"  And  then  the  colonel  stepped  out  and  fetched 
you  in.  We  had  sight  of  you,  those  that  were 
keeping  the  west  windows,  as  you  came  down  to 
the  lane.  '  It's  Hugh/  says  the  colonel,  sharp- 
like  ;  '  unbar  the  door.'  Soon  as  we  had  the 
barrier  tore  down,  and  we  made  short  work  of  it, 
he  out  after  you.  'Twas  a  most  improper  thing, 
too,"  Ridydale  grumbled ;  "  captain  of  a  troop  to 
risk  himself  under  a  fire  like  that  for  a  mere  vol- 
unteer. When  there  were  others  ready  enough 
to  go  out.  Maybe  you  were  too  flustered,  sir,  to 
note  what  a  pretty  shot  I  had  at  the  knave  who 
followed  you  over  the  wall  ?  " 

Hugh  confessed  he  had  missed  that  sight. 


xxi      THE   FATHERHOOD  OF  ALAN   GWYETH     349 

"  Ay,  'twas  not  a  shot  to  be  ashamed  of,"  the 
corporal  resumed,  pulling  his  mustache  with  much 
satisfaction.  "  'Twas  brisk  give  and  take  we 
were  having  then,  sir.  The  colonel  had  a  bullet 
through  the  skirts  of  his  coat  ere  he  got  you 
within  the  church.  Ay,  'twas  improper  conduct 
of  him.  What  would  have  become  of  us  all,  tell 
me  now,  had  he  been  hurt  ? " 

"  Why,  just  the  same  that  will  become  of  you 
now  he  is  not  hurt,"  the  captain  struck  in  crisply 
as  he  came  up.  "  Tell  me,  Hugh,  did  it  commend 
itself  to  the  sapience  of  Sir  William  Pleydall  to 
say  what  time  Saturday  we  might  look  for  relief  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Perhaps  it  does  not  matter  to  him  whether  it 
gets  here  at  sunrise  or  sunset,"  the  captain  re- 
marked dispassionately.  "  It  makes  a  mighty 
deal  of  difference  to  us,  though."  He  stuck  his 
hands  in  his  pockets  and  stood  staring  up  at  the 
broken  window  where  the  sun  came  through.  In 
the  strong  light  Hugh  noted  how  haggard  his 
face  looked  about  the  eyes,  and  how  three  days  of 
neglect  showed  in  the  red-gold  beard.  But  when 
the  captain  turned  from  the  window  there  was  a 
laugh  in  his  eyes.  "  Jack,"  he  addressed  Ridy- 
dale,  who  was  standing  at  attention,  "  what  devilry 
do  you  suppose  Tommy  Oldesworth  is  at  now 
that  he  keeps  so  quiet  ? " 

"  Shall  I  try  a  shot  to  stir  him  up,  sir  ?  "  the 
corporal  proffered. 

"  Not  for  your  life,  Jack.  Go  rest  you,  while 
they  let  us." 

As  Ridydale  strode  off,  Captain  Gwyeth,  with 
a  soberer  look,  set  himself  down  in  his  place. 


350  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

"  You  ought  to  know,  Hugh,  that  we're  in  a  bad 
way,"  he  spoke  out  in  a  brusque,  low  tone. 

"  There's  help  coming,"  Hugh  answered  stoutly, 
and  dragged  himself  up  on  one  elbow  so  he  could 
rest  against  the  steps  beside  his  father. 

"  Ay,  but  it  must  be  quick,"  the  captain  replied, 
"  for  Oldesworth  is  hot  upon  us.  He  came  hither 
this  morning  under  the  white  flag  to  advise  us 
surrender  to  his  mercy  ere  he  batter  down  our 
walls." 

"  Ordnance  ?  "  Hugh  asked  blankly. 

"  He  may  bring  it  from  Warwick.  Our  only 
hope  is  that  he  may  be  so  long  in  the  bringing 
it  —  Well,  he's  bravely  worried  that  you  got  in 
to  us,  else  he'd  not  have  offered  us  terms.  He's 
troubled  about  that  relief;  and,  faith,  I'm  troubled, 
too.  The  men  will  hold  out  another  twenty-four 
hours  in  the  hope,  but  we've  had  neither  food  nor 
drink  since  yesterday  afternoon.  And  we  are 
scant  thirty  men  now,  and  there  are  six  with  dis- 
abling wounds  besides." 

"  Couldn't  I  make  one  in  the  fighting  ?  "  Hugh 
ventured  hesitatingly.  "  I  might  not  be  able  to 
steady  a  carabine  with  one  hand,  but  I  could 
load  —  " 

"  Then  we  could  not  use  you  long,"  the  captain 
said,  with  a  dry  laugh.  "  That's  the  crowning  curse 
of  it  all,  Hugh ;  there's  not  above  three  bullets 
left  to  a.  man." 

Hugh  gazed  down  the  dismantled  church,  where 
the  pews  were  all  turned  to  sorry  defences  and 
the  windows  were  shattered  with  the  rebel  balls. 
He  noted,  too,  the  set,  weary  faces  of  the  nearest 
men  on  guard,  and  something  of  the  hopelessness 


xxi      THE  FATHERHOOD   OF  ALAN   GWYETH     351 

of  the  whole  position  came  home  to  him.  His 
face  must  have  shown  his  thought,  for  the  captain 
suddenly  put  a  hand  on  his  shoulder.  "  That's 
why  I'm  sorry  you  are  here,"  he  said  briefly. 

"  I  care  not  for  that,"  Hugh  choked,  "  but  if 
they  do  not  bring  aid  in  time,  —  Peregrine  said 
they  would  hang  you." 

"  Peregrine  ?  "  the  captain  queried.  "  Tut,  tut ! 
He  should  be  old  enough  by  now  to  know  a  gen- 
tleman does  not  let  himself  be  taken  and  hanged 
while  he  has  weapons  in  his  hands.  Though  I 
knew  from  the  start  'twould  be  a  fight  to  the 
death  if  ever  I  came  sword  to  sword  with  the 
Oldesworths."  There  was  a  space  of  silence,  then 
he  broke  out :  '.'  I  suppose  they  taught  you  I  was 
a  scoundrel,  did  they  not  ?  " 

"  At  the  last,  yes,  my  grandfather  said  it," 
Hugh  admitted,  "  but  while  my  mother  lived  she 
told  me  only  good  of  you." 

"  Then,  she  had  forgiven  me  ? "  the  captain 
asked  in  a  low  tone. 

Hugh's  eyes  were  not  on  him,  but  straying 
across  the  church  to  where  the  great  Oldesworth 
pew  had  stood ;  even  at  that  distance  he  seemed 
to  read  on  the  tablet  set  in  the  wall  the  name, 
"Ruth  Gwyeth."  "She  did  not  hold  there  was 
anything  to  forgive ;  she  said  the  wrong  had  all 
been  hers,"  he  broke  out ;  "  she  said  you  were  the 
best  and  noblest  gentleman  that  ever  lived,  and 
far  too  good  for  her." 

"  Poor  lass,  poor  lass !  "  the  captain  said  under 
his  breath ;  he  was  sitting  with  one  hand  shield- 
ing his  eyes,  Hugh  noted,  but  of  a  sudden  he 
looked  down  at  the  boy  and  spoke  curtly :  "  So 


352  HUGH  GWYETH  a*. 

you  came  seeking  me,  believing  all  that,  and  then 
I  thrust  you  out  of  doors  ?  " 

Hugh  nodded  without  looking  at  his  father; 
he  was  conscious  of  a  queer,  shamed  feeling,  as  if 
he  had  been  himself  at  fault. 

"  Yet  you  stood  up  before  that  hound  Bellasis 
and  took  that  hack  in  the  face  for  me.  I  used 
you  like  a  villain,  Hugh,"  the  captain  blurted 
out ;  "  even  Ruth  could  not  forgive  me  for  it. 
But,  lad,  if  we  come  alive  from  this,  I'll  strive  to 
make  you  forget  it." 

"  I  am  forgetting  now,"  Hugh  said  honestly. 
"  And  if  you'd  looked  as  if  you  wanted  me,  I'd 
ha'  come  to  you  before." 

"  I  did  want  you.  And  you  waited  for  me  to 
look  it,  did  you  ?  I'm  thinking  we're  something 
alike,  lad."  He  put  his  arm  about  the  boy's  neck 
with  a  sudden,  half  rough  caress.  "  Turner  said 
you  had  as  decent  a  courage  as  most  lads  and  a 
bit  more  sense,"  he  broke  out.  "  Faith,  I  believe 
him.  And  if  we  come  through  here  you  shall 
have  a  chance  to  show  it  to  every  man  in  the 
troop,  yes,  to  the  same  fellows  that  flogged  you." 

Hugh  edged  a  little  nearer  his  father.  "  I'd  do 
my  best  to  show  them ;  I'd  like  the  chance,"  he 
answered ;  then  added  thoughtfully,  "  Though, 
after  all,  I  am  not  sorry  for  that  flogging.  If  I'd 
not  known  some  hard  knocks  already,  they  might 
have  been  able  to  frighten  me  yesterday." 

There  he  stopped,  unavailingly,  for  the  captain 
pounced  down  on  him  and  did  not  rest  till  he  got 
the  whole  history  of  the  last  hours.  Hugh  put 
all  the  emphasis  he  could  on  Master  Oldesworth 
and  on  Lois,  but  Peregrine  and  Thomas  Oldes- 


xxi     THE   FATHERHOOD   OF  ALAN   GWYETH     353 

worth  were  dragged  in  at  the  captain's  urgence, 
and  the  captain's  face  grew  ominous.  "  'Twas 
not  clean  dealings  on  Tom  Oldesworth's  part,"  he 
said  betwixt  his  teeth.  "  Well,  when  it  comes  to 
the  last  we'll  remember  it  against  him." 

With  that  he  got  up  to  go  about  his  business, 
but  presently  strode  back  with  a  cushion.  "  Put 
that  under  your  head,  Hugh,"  he  bade,  and  tak- 
ing up  the  cloak  helped  the  boy  wrap  it  round 
him.  "  You'll  find  it  cold  here  in  the  church  as 
soon  as  the  sun  goes  down,"  he  explained.  "  Try 
to  sleep,  though ;  get  what  strength  you  can 
against  to-morrow." 

After  he  had  gone,  Hugh  settled  himself  to 
sleep,  but  it  took  a  time,  for  his  arm  ached  relent- 
lessly, and  his  head  was  hot  and  his  mouth  dry. 
Moment  after  moment  he  lay  staring  down  the 
dusky  church,  where  the  twilight  was  filling  in, 
and  harked  to  the  slow  step  of  those  on  guard. 
The  shades  had  gathered  dark,  and  his  eyes  were 
closing,  when  he  realized  that  the  man  who  had 
been  groaning  in  the  transept  was  quiet  now.  He 
guessed  what  that  meant,  and  something  of  the 
ugliness  of  death  came  home  to  him.  He  sat  up 
eagerly  to  look  for  some  companionship,  then  felt 
ashamed  and  lay  down  again  to  listen  and  listen 
once  more,  and  think  on  Peregrine's  threats  and 
Thomas  Oldesworth's  set,  implacable  face.  When 
he  went  to  sleep  at  last  his  kinsmen  followed  him, 
even  through  his  dreams. 

Dreams,  recollections,  of  a  sudden  all  were 
blotted  out.  He  was  sitting  up,  he  knew,  in  a 
place  that  save  for  two  feeble  flickers  of  light  was 
pitchy  black,  he  heard  men  running  and  shouting, 

2A 


354  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

and,  over  all  and  subduing  all,  he  heard  a  crash, 
crash  which  he  judged  bewilderedly  to  be  of  can- 
nonading. The  roof  must  fall  soon,  he  feared, 
and  scrambling  to  his  feet  he  ran  forward  into 
the  darkness  and  tumult.  Above  the  uproar  he 
caught  Captain  Gwyeth's  voice,  steady  and  dis- 
tinct :  "  Lieutenant  von  Holzberg,  your  squadron 
to  their  stations  at  the  windows.  Corporal  Ridy- 
dale,  take  six  men  and  bear  the  wounded  down 
into  the  crypt." 

Following  the  voice,  Hugh  stumbled  into  the 
transept  and,  getting  used  to  the  dark,  had  a  vague 
sight  of  his  father,  who,  with  his  hands  behind 
him,  stood  giving  orders  to  right  and  left.  Hugh 
leaned  against  the  wall  close  by  and  kept  his  hand 
to  his  head  that  throbbed  and  beat  with  each  stroke 
of  the  cannon  and  shake  of  the  building.  During 
a  lull  in  the  firing  he  caught  the  captain's  voice  in 
a  lower  key  :  "  You  here,  Hugh?  " 

"I  —  I  take  it  I  was  frightened  up,"  he  stam- 
mered. "  You'll  help  me  to  a  sword  before  the 
end  ? " 

"  No  need  for  that  yet,"  Captain  Gwyeth  an- 
swered. "  They'll  not  be  able  to  batter  in  these 
walls  for  hours.  And  by  then  —  "  His  voice  took 
a  curious  change  of  tone:  "You  are  sure,  Hugh, 
they  made  no  mention  of  what  time  Saturday  the 
aid  would  come  ?  " 

"No,  none,"  Hugh  replied;  "but  'twill  surely 
come,  sir.  Dick  promised." 

"  Well,  well,  we've  much  to  hope,"  said  the  cap- 
tain, "and,  faith,  that's  all  we  can  do  now.  Sit 
down  here,  Hugh,"  he  went  on,  leading  him  over 
to  the  pulpit  stairs.  "I've  a  notion  'twould  be 


xxi      THE   FATHERHOOD   OF   ALAN    GWYETH     355 

pleasing  if  I  could  lay  hands  on  you  when  I  want 
you." 

Then  he  went  back  into  the  din  and  confusion 
of  the  nave,  and  Hugh,  leaning  his  head  against 
the  balustrade,  harked  dazedly  to  the  successive 
boom  of  cannon.  Through  it  all  he  found  space 
in  his  heart  to  be  glad  that  his  father  had  not  sug- 
gested sending  him  down  into  the  crypt  with  the 
other  wounded. 

Out  through  a  shattered  window  to  the  east  he 
had  sight  of  a  strip  of  sky,  uneven  with  clouds,  and 
some  small  stars.  Little  by  little  they  paled  while 
he  sat  there,  and  still  the  guns  kept  up  their 
clamor.  Once,  after  the  shot,  came  a  great  rat- 
tling, and  a  piece  of  stone  crashed  down  from 
the  western  wall ;  Hugh  heard  a  confused  running 
in  that  direction,  and  the  captain's  voice  that 
checked  it.  Once  again,  when  oddly  he  had  fallen 
into  a  numb  sort  of  doze,  came  another  shat- 
tering crash,  and  right  upon  it  a  man  screamed 
out  in  a  way  that  made  Hugh  shudder  and  choke. 
After  that  he  dozed  no  more,  but  rigid  and  up- 
right sat  listening. 

It  was  light  enough  to  distinguish  faces  when 
at  length  Captain  Gwyeth,  with  his  brows  drawn 
and  his  teeth  tugging  at  one  end  of  his  mustache, 
came  up  to  him.  "  I've  a  sling  here  for  that 
arm  of  yours,"  he  said  brusquely,  beginning  to 
fasten  the  bandage.  "  'Twould  be  in  your  way 
for  any  fighting  purposes.  And  here's  a  sword. 
You  may  have  to  use  it,  unless  our  friends  come 
quickly."  Then  he  paused  a  time  by  Hugh,  not 
speaking,  but  scowling  upon  the  floor,  and  at  last 
strode  moodily  away. 


356  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

The  light  broadened  and  brightened  within  the 
church ;  a  patch  of  sunshine  gleamed  upon  the 
floor,  and  through  an  east  window  Hugh  could 
catch  the  rays  of  yellow  light  glinting  across  the 
sombre  leaves  of  the  yew  tree.  It  was  a  rare,  warm, 
August  day,  a  strange  time  for  a  life  and  death 
struggle,  he  told  himself,  as  he  drew  the  sword 
clumsily  from  its  scabbard.  Then  he  looked  to 
the  western  wall  of  the  church,  where  the  light 
was  smiting  in  now  at  a  great  gap  and  the  crum- 
bled stones  lay  scattered  across  the  floor.  Up 
above  he  saw  a  broken  fragment  of  the  roof  that 
hung  and  swayed  so  its  motion  fascinated  him. 
Of  a  sudden,  as  he  gazed  stupidly,  he  became 
aware  the  cannonading  had  ceased,  and  he  won- 
dered that  he  had  not  marked  it  before.  Then 
he  heard  again  his  father's  curt,  quick  tones,  and 
saw  the  troopers  quit  their  stations  to  gather  op- 
posite the  gap  in  the  wall. 

Getting  to  his  feet,  Hugh  went  down  to  join 
the  others.  At  the  west  door  he  perceived  Von 
Holzberg  standing  with  six  men,  but  he  passed 
on  into  the  nave  of  the  church.  There  at  the 
gap  the  men  had  fallen  into  double  line,  a  bat- 
tered, haggard  little  company,  some  in  their 
breastpieces,  some  in  their  shirt-sleeves.  There 
were  bandaged  arms  and  bandaged  heads  among 
them,  Hugh  noted,  but  the  carabines  were  all  in 
hand,  and  each  had  his  sword,  too,  ready  at  his 
side.  Captain  Gwyeth  was  with  Ridydale,  peer- 
ing out  at  the  gap  in  the  wall,  but  now  he  turned 
to  his  men.  "  As  you  see,  they  have  made  a  prac- 
ticable breach  in  our  walls,"  he  began.  "  Now 
they  have  it  in  mind  to  storm  us,  and  afterward 


xxi      THE   FATHERHOOD    OF  ALAN   GWYETH     357 

knock  us  o'  the  head.  So  it  behooves  you  fight 
for  your  worthless  skins.  And  in  any  case,  if 
they  destroy  us,  see  to  it  a  good  crew  of  these 
cursed  rebels  go  to  hell  before  us." 

Then  he  looked  about  till  his  eyes  fell  on  Hugh, 
and,  coming  to  him,  he  took  him  by  the  shoulder 
and  brought  him  over  to  front  the  troop.  Hugh 
faced  the  men  he  had  once  served,  and  he  saw 
Unger  on  the  farther  end  of  the  front  line,  and 
Saxon,  with  his  head  tied  up,  and  Jeff  Hardwyn, 
who  looked  at  him  and  fumbled  with  his  carabine. 
Somehow  his  eyes  rested  on  Hardwyn,  as  the  cap- 
tain began  speaking  briskly :  "  I'm  thinking  some 
of  you  know  this  gentleman,  my  son.  He  has 
risked  his  neck  twice  to  break  through  the  lines 
and  share  this  fight  with  us.  So  I  set  him  in 
Cornet  Foster's  place,  and  you  will  follow  him  as 
your  officer.  Cornet  Gwyeth,  you  will  take  six 
men  and  make  good  the  north  door." 

Right  on  that,  some  one,  Hugh  guessed  it  was 
Saxon,  broke  into  a  cheer,  which  the  others  took 
up.  Under  cover  of  the  noise,  Captain  Gwyeth, 
still  holding  Hugh  by  the  shoulder,  whispered 
him  hurriedly :  "  When  they  come  in,  and  we 
have  the  last  fight,  try  to  get  to  me.  We'll  fight 
it  out  back  to  back,  if  it  be  God's  will." 

Just  there  Ridydale,  standing  by  the  breach  in 
the  wall,  spoke:  "Captain  Gwyeth,  the  rebels  are 
advancing  up  the  hill." 


CHAPTER   XXII 

AFTER   THE    VICTORY 

IN  the  moments  while  the  besieged  held  their 
fire,  a  hush  came  upon  the  church.  Hugh  could 
hear  the  footfalls  startlingly  loud  as  he  led  his 
squadron  briskly  to  the  main  door,  but  it  did  not 
seem  it  was  himself  who  went  forward.  He  saw 
the  floor  slip  by  him  and  heard  his  own  tread,  but 
it  was  in  an  impersonal  way,  as  if  it  were  another 
man  who  was  to  fight  that  last  fight,  while  he 
stood  by,  unmoved  and  unaffected,  and  watched 
and  passed  judgment.  Before  him  now  he  saw 
the  entrance  door,  with  the  broken  pews  heaped 
in  a  stiff  barricade;  to  the  right,  beneath  the 
window,  the  ends  of  the  barrier  furnished  some 
foothold,  so  he  started  to  scramble  up  and  recon- 
noitre. His  injured  arm  made  him  awkward ;  at 
the  first  step  he  tottered,  and  was  glad  that  one  of 
his  followers  caught  him  about  the  body  to  steady 
him.  Glancing  down  he  saw  that  it  was  Hardwyn, 
but  he  felt  no  surprise;  everything  now  was  be- 
yond wonder.  "  Keep  hold  on  me,  Corporal,"  he 
said,  as  if  Hardwyn  had  never  been  any  but  his 
obedient  underling,  and  made  a  move  to  step  to 
the  next  projection. 

Just  there  the  heavy  stillness  of  the  church  was 
broken  by  a  jarring  rattle  of  carabine  fire  that  sent 
a  cracking  echo  through  the  high  roof.  Looking 

358 


CH.  xxn  AFTER  THE  VICTORY  359 

over  his  shoulder  Hugh  saw  gray  smoke  belch 
across  the  nave,  and  saw  the  ordered  movement  of 
the  men  as  the  second  line,  with  their  carabines 
raised,  stepped  forward  to  the  breach.  Right  as 
he  looked  the  second  volley  rolled  out,  and  there 
came  a  cracked  and  dry-throated  cheering  from 
the  men.  "  Four  volleys  left,"  he  heard  Hardwyn 
beside  him  mutter.  "  Best  cheer  while  we  can." 

Once  more  there  was  a  lull,  and  Hugh,  getting 
his  sound  hand  on  the  window  ledge,  pulled  him- 
self up,  balancing  precariously  upon  the  broken 
boards,  and  peered  out.  He  could  see  the  white 
walk  that  ran  up  to  the  porch,  and  on  either  hand 
the  untroubled  graves,  but  he  beheld  no  enemy 
astir.  Venturing  to  lean  a  little  from  the  window, 
he  saw  the  roadway  beyond  the  church  wall,  the 
arch  of  the  bridge,  the  water  beneath,  bright  in 
the  sun,  and  across  it  the  slope  of  hillside  road. 
There  Hugh's  eyes  rested,  and  then  his  voice  came 
high  and  shrill  so  he  scarcely  knew  it:  "  Hardwyn, 
look,  look  you  there  !  What  is  coming?" 

Hardwyn  was  elbowing  him  at  the  window; 
through  the  crash  of  the  fourth  volley  he  heard 
the  barrier  creak  under  the  weight  of  the  rest  of 
the  little  squadron  as  they  pressed  up  about  him. 
But  he  did  not  take  his  eyes  from  the  hilltop  till, 
black  and  clear  against  the  sky,  a  moving  line  of 
horse  swung  into  view. 

"  Cavalry,  sir,"  spoke  Hardwyn,  imperturbably, 
but  Hugh  had  already  turned  from  the  window. 
"  Run  to  the  captain,  Saxon,"  he  cried.  "  Tell 
him  they  are  coming.  Relief,  relief !  "  His  voice 
rose  to  a  shout  that  carried  through  the  church, 
and  his  squadron  took  up  the  cry,  and  ended  with 


360  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

a  cheer  that  spread  even  to  the  fighters  at  the 
breach. 

Through  the  uproar  sounded  Captain  Gwyeth's 
voice :  "  If  they  will  have  it,  out  at  them ! " 

The  besieged  swarmed  forth  at  the  breach, 
and  Hugh,  plunging  headlong  down  off  the 
barrier,  ran  to  join  them.  The  stones  slipped 
noisily  beneath  his  feet,  and  as  he  stumbled  over 
the  crest  of  the  debris  he  turned  his  ankle.  Out- 
side the  hot  blur  of  sunshine  dazzled  him ;  he  was 
conscious  of  light,  light  all  around  him,  and  men, 
grappling,  clubbing,  stabbing,  in  a  tumult  that  be- 
wildered his  brain.  Loud  amidst  the  shrieks  and 
oaths  and  cries  for  quarter  rattled  the  crack, 
crack  of  carabines  and  small  arms,  but  through  it 
all  he  could  hear  the  hollow  thud,  thud  of  horses 
thundering  across  the  bridge.  Some  one  struck  at 
him,  and  instinctively  he  defended  himself,  though 
it  was  hard  to  swing  a  sword  in  the  press.  Then, 
getting  sight  of  his  father's  red  head,  clear  from 
the  breach  in  the  thick  of  the  fight,  he  forced  his 
way  down  to  his  side.  At  the  foot  of  the  fallen 
stones  he  stumbled  over  a  man  and,  as  he  re- 
covered himself,  came  one  who  tried  to  strike  him 
with  a  clubbed  musket.  Hugh  ducked,  and,  as 
he  bent,  saw  the  trampled  grass  beneath  his  feet, 
then,  thrusting  low,  came  away  unscathed.  Still 
he  heard  the  thud,  thud  of  coming  horses,  and 
now,  too,  he  caught  clearly  from  the  undistin- 
guishable  shouts  and  yells  the  cry :  "  For  a  king ! 
God  and  the  king !  " 

Hugh  had  one  glimpse  of  horsemen  leaping  the 
low  wall ;  then  he  was  guarding  himself  from  the 
slashes  of  a  Roundhead  trooper,  and  only  just 


xxn  AFTER  THE  VICTORY  361 

saved  his  head.  He  gave  the  man  back  an  under- 
cut, when  suddenly  the  fellow  cast  the  sword  from 
his  hand.  "  I  yield  me,  sir.  Quarter!  "  he  cried. 

Hugh  paused,  and,  glancing  about  him  now, 
saw  the  battle  was  indeed  over.  Down  in  the  road 
troopers  in  red  sashes  were  guarding  the  way,  and 
men  of  the  same  color  were  swarming  up  through 
the  churchyard,  but  there  was  no  resistance,  save 
here  and  there  where  single  conflicts  were  still 
contested  to  the  end.  Then  Hugh  spied  Alan 
Gwyeth,  picking  himself  up  from  the  grass  at  the 
foot  of  the  shattered  wall,  and  he  ran  thither,  just 
as  the  captain  dragged  to  his  feet  the  man  with 
whom  he  had  been  grappling.  It  was  Thomas 
Oldesworth,  Hugh  saw,  with  the  dirt  grimed  into 
his  coat  and  his  face  streaming  blood;  he  stood 
unsteadily  with  one  hand  pressed  to  his  side, 
but  his  lips  were  hard  set  as  ever.  "  Take  him 
within  the  church  and  look  to  him,"  the  captain 
bade  Ridydale,  and  then  there  was  no  room  for 
thought  of  the  vanquished,  for  Captain  Turner 
came  riding  comfortably  up  the  slope  and  hailed 
them :  "  Good  day  to  you,  Captain  Gwyeth.  Is 
there  enough  of  the  troop  left  to  pay  us  for  posting 
hither  to  rescue  you? " 

"  Rescue  be  hanged ! "  said  the  captain,  un- 
graciously, as  he  stood  wiping  the  sweat  from  his 
forehead  with  his  sleeve.  "  We  could  a  held  out 
three  hours  longer." 

"  Vour  hours  und  more,"  put  in  the  stolid  Von 
Holzberg,  and  such  of  the  troop  as  had  gathered 
thither  murmured  a  resentful  assent. 

"  Well,  well,  I  crave  all  your  pardons  for  com- 
ing so  inopportunely,"  Turner  answered  dryly,  and 


362  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

then :  "  So  that  lad  of  yours  got  through  in  safety  ? 
Better  go  look  for  Lieutenant  Strangwayes,  Mas- 
ter Gwyeth ;  I  think  he's  troubled  about  you.  He 
has  ridden  on  the  trail  of  the  rebels  a  piece." 

Hugh  started  down  the  slope,  but,  chancing  to 
glance  back,  saw  Michael  Turner  had  dismounted, 
and  he  and  Captain  Gwyeth  were  embracing  each 
other  amicably.  Then  he  went  on  down  the 
sunny  hillside,  and  across  one  mound  saw  a  man 
lying  motionless  on  his  back,  and  down  by  the 
wall  one  who,  pulling  himself  up  on  his  elbow, 
called  for  water.  But  Hugh  could  give  him  no 
heed,  for  up  the  white,  hot  roadway  he  saw  a 
squadron  coming,  and  at  its  head  a  black  horse 
that  he  knew.  He  scrambled  up  on  the  low  wall 
and  stood  staring  and  meaning  to  call,  but  could 
not  find  voice  till  the  black  horse  had  shot  out 
from  the  bulk  of  the  squadron,  and  Dick  Strang- 
wayes had  reined  up  by  the  wall.  "  Hugh  !  And 
safe  ?  "  he  asked  in  a  low  tone. 

Hugh  came  down  off  the  wall  and  reached  up 
to  grasp  Dick's  hand.  "Safe,  I  think;  I'm  not 
sure  yet.  And,  Dick,  'tis  all  well  now  between 
my  father  and  me."  Then  he  stood  a  moment 
with  his  head  leaning  against  Black  Boy's  neck, 
and  gazed  up  into  Dick's  face  and  the  dazzle  of 
blue  sky  beyond,  but  found  nothing  he  could  say. 

"So  you're  alive,  old  Hugh?"  came  Frank's 
voice  behind  him.  "  Faith,  you're  a  lucky  lad. 
Here's  your  bay  horse  I  borrowed,  turn  and  turn 
about.  You  can  ride  him  back,  for  we'll  have 
enough  and  to  spare." 

There  they  must  break  off  speech,  for  Turner, 
leading  his  horse  carefully,  came  down  from  the 


xxn  AFTER  THE  VICTORY  363 

church  and  with  him  Captain  Gwyeth.  "  Call 
the  troop  to  saddle  again,  Lieutenant,"  Turner  or- 
dered ;  "  we'll  ride  for  Everscombe  and  entreat 
these  people  give  the  captain  back  his  horses." 

"  I'll  ride  with  you,"  spoke  Alan  Gwyeth ;  "  I 
want  to  see  the  house  again."  Then  he  turned 
to  Hugh  and  asked  in  a  low  tone :  "  You  say 
'twas  your  grandfather  took  you  out  of  Captain 
Oldesworth's  hands  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  He  sent  me  dinner,  too,  though  I 
was  not  feeling  hungry  then." 

The  captain  smiled  a  bit.  "  I'll  remember  it  to 
his  credit,"  he  said.  "  Now  keep  you  quiet  at  the 
church  and  save  your  hurt  arm."  He  walked  off 
to  mount  upon  a  spare  horse,  and  Hugh  watched 
him  till  he  rode  away  with  Turner's  troop. 

As  he  was  clambering  back  over  the  wall  into 
the  graveyard,  Frank  came  panting  in  his  trail. 
"  Captain  Turner  bade  me  stay  with  you,"  he  an- 
nounced ;  "  sure,  he  has  less  liking  to  me  as  a  vol- 
unteer than  as  an  officer." 

"  Nonsense !  'Tis  only  that  he  does  not  wish 
to  take  you  home  wounded.  And  if  they  find 
The  Jade  at  Everscombe  they'll  bring  her — " 

"  Oh,  I  have  The  Jade  safe  already,"  Frank 
answered  cheerfully,  as  he  kept  step  with  Hugh 
up  into  the  churchyard ;  "  they  found  her  grazing 
in  the  fields  beyond  Tamworth  yesterday  morn- 
ing with  her  stirrups  flapping  loose.  Dick  shut 
his  mouth  then  as  he  does  on  occasion,  and  before 
nightfall  Turner's  and  Leveson's  men  got  off  to 
bring  help.  I  know  not  how  they'll  do  without 
us,"  he  went  on,  "  for  Captain  Marston's  troop  was 
the  only  one  recalled  to  Tamworth.  But  we  are 


364  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

to  make  a  forced  march  back  to-night,  if  'tis  in 
our  horses.  And  that  reminds  me,  Hugh,  you're 
not  fit  to  be  trusted  with  a  good  piece  of  horse- 
flesh. The  Jade  has  strained  the  tendons  of  her 
near  foreleg,  and  her  coat  is  rough  as  a  last  year's 
stubble-field.  Not  but  I'm  glad  she  could  serve 
you,"  Frank  corrected  himself  with  tardily  re- 
membered courtesy.  "  And,  faith,  I  am  glad  as 
Dick  that  you  are  still  alive." 

Up  in  the  church,  whither  the  wounded  and 
prisoners  were  being  brought,  Hugh  reported 
himself  to  Von  Holzberg,  who  despatched  him 
with  a  squad  to  forage  out  food  in  the  village. 
The  Roundheads  had  already  stripped  it  pretty 
clean,  but  in  an  hour's  time  Hugh  secured  enough 
for  his  father's  hungry  troop,  and,  leaving  Frank 
idling  in  the  village  street,  led  his  men  back  to 
the  church.  In  the  shade  outside  several  of 
Gwyeth's  troop,  battered  and  weary,  were  easing 
themselves  with  grumbling  that  they  had  not  been 
suffered  to  come  share  in  the  plunder  of  Evers- 
combe.  The  word  put  it  in  Hugh's  head  that 
now  he  had  eaten  and  felt  a  bit  like  himself  he 
would  gladly  ride  to  the  manor  house  and,  if  he 
could,  thank  his  grandfather  for  the  kindness  he 
had  thought  to  show  him.  With  that  intention 
he  passed  into  the  church  to  seek  Von  Holzberg 
and  get  his  permission  for  the  journey. 

At  first,  as  he  came  from  the  bright  sunlight, 
the  shadows  within  the  church  blinded  him,  but 
he  could  hear  the  sorry  groaning  of  injured  men, 
and  presently  made  out  that  the  wounded  were 
laid  in  the  transept  before  him.  It  was  an  ugly, 
pitiful  sight,  and  knowing  his  helplessness  to  aid 


xxii  AFTER  THE  VICTORY  365 

he  passed  on  quickly  into  the  choir,  where  he  had 
caught  sight  of  Ridydale.  Once  more  the  cor- 
poral was  seated  with  his  carabine  on  the  altar 
stairs,  but  he  now  had  on  his  grimmest  look,  for 
down  in  Hugh's  old  place  lay  Captain  Oldes- 
worth.  They  must  have  looked  to  his  hurts 
somewhat,  for  the  blood  had  been  washed  from 
his  face,  and  his  coat  was  flung  open  as  if  his  side 
had  been  bandaged ;  he  lay  quiet  now,  with  his 
eyes  closed  and  his  lips  white,  but  Hugh,  remem- 
bering how  mercilessly  the  man  had  dealt  by 
him,  told  himself  he  did  not  pity  him.  Without 
heeding  the  captain  he  stepped  over  to  Ridydale 
and  asked  him  where  Lieutenant  von  Holzberg 
might  be  found.  "  He  has  just  passed  down  into 
the  nave,  Master  Hugh,"  said  Ridydale  relaxing 
his  grimness  a  trifle.  "  Crave  your  pardon,  sir,  I 
should  have  called  you  Cornet  Gwyeth  now." 

"  Perhaps  not  yet,"  Hugh  answered  discreetly; 
"  Sir  William  Pleydall  will  have  a  word  to  say  in 
the  matter." 

"  Humph !  "  Ridydale  retorted  conclusively. 
"  Hasn't  Colonel  Gwyeth  said  you  were  his  cor- 
net ?  What  more  would  you  have  ? " 

Hugh  laughed,  and  was  turning  away,  when  he 
perceived  that  Captain  Oldesworth  had  opened 
his  eyes  and  was  watching  him ;  he  halted  short 
and  waited,  for  he  would  not  be  the  first  to  speak. 
"  So  it's  your  day  now,"  Oldesworth  began,  in  an 
even  tone  that  might  be  construed  a  dozen  ways. 

"  Fortune  of  war,  sir,"  Hugh  answered  coldly. 

"  You  got  in,  after  all,"  the  captain  pursued,  with 
something  like  a  groan.  "  That  comes  of  letting 
a  civilian  meddle  with  military  matters.  If  you 


366  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

had  remained  in  my  hands  —  "  There  he  broke 
off.  "  I  crave  your  forgiveness,  sir,"  he  finished, 
with  a  bitterness  that  angered  Hugh,  yet  moved 
him  to  something  faintly  like  compassion,  "  I  had 
forgot;  a  prisoner  should  be  circumspect  in 
speech." 

It  was  on  Hugh's  tongue  to  retort  that  Cavalier 
gentlemen  were  not  wont  to  mishandle  their 
prisoners,  but  he  thought  on  Dennis  Butler,  and 
that  speech  was  silenced.  He  merely  said :  "  My 
father  will  not  abuse  you,  sir,"  and  had  half  a 
mind  to  pass  on,  when  Oldesworth  struggled  up 
on  his  elbow.  "  Tell  me  one  thing,  Hugh,"  he 
broke  out  as  if  against  his  will,  "  has  Peregrine 
been  taken  ? " 

"  No,  sir,  not  here  at  Kingsford." 

Oldesworth  sank  down  again  with  his  head 
on  his  arm.  "  He  ran  away,  then,"  he  said  in  a 
constrained  voice.  "  He  should  have  come  in  with 
the  other  squadron.  We  need  not  have  been  so 
cut  to  pieces  had  the  whole  troop  been  there. 
Lieutenant  Ingram  came  in  with  me;  he  was 
killed  at  the  breach.  And  Peregrine  ran  away." 
He  paused  a  moment,  then  spoke  half  to  himself, 
"  If  I  come  free  again  I'll  strip  him  out  of  his 
commission  for  this." 

Hugh  dropped  on  one  knee  beside  his  uncle. 
"  I  pray  you,  sir,  take  it  not  so  to  heart,"  he 
urged,  "  mayhap  'twas  not  that  he  ran  away  — " 

"  Nay,  I  know  Peregrine,"  Captain  Oldesworth 
answered.  "  I  would  'twere  he  had  turned  Cavalier 
and  you  had  stayed  Roundhead ;  you'd  not  have 
slunk  off  to  save  your  skin."  But  next  moment 
he  spoke  in  his  bitterest  tone :  "  Nay,  get  you 


xxn  AFTER  THE  VICTORY  367 

hence,  lad.  I  don't  want  your  pity;  I'd  liefer 
have  your  hate."  Then  he  turned  his  face  to  the 
wall,  still  with  his  mouth  hard  set,  and  closed  his 
eyes. 

There  was  nothing  more  to  be  said,  Hugh  saw, 
so  he  came  to  his  feet  slowly,  with  a  feeling  that 
after  all  he  was  sorry  for  Oldesworth,  in  his  pain 
and  bitter  humiliation,  much  though  he  had  de- 
served it.  He  turned  again  to  Ridydale  and  said 
under  his  breath :  "  Corporal,  if  you  love  me  put 
on  a  less  appalling  face  and  use  the  gentleman 
more  civilly.  After  all,  he  is  my  kinsman." 

Then  he  walked  away  to  seek  Von  Holzberg, 
and,  getting  his  permission  to  ride  to  Everscombe, 
routed  out  Saxon  to  make  ready  Bayard  and  two 
other  horses,  while  he  went  in  search  of  Frank, 
for  whom  he  had  a  feeling  of  responsibility.  Not 
rinding  him  at  first,  he  was  a  bit  worried  till, 
chancing  to  step  into  one  of  the  deserted  cot- 
tages, he  came  upon  the  lad,  curled  up  snugly  on 
a  settle  and  fast  asleep.  He  jumped  to  his  feet 
in  a  hurry  as  Hugh's  hand  was  laid  on  his  fore- 
head, and  after  a  first  bewildered  stare  put  on  a 
great  assumption  of  alertness  and  came  stumbling 
out  into  the  roadway.  "  You  see,  we  were  in  the 
saddle  all  yesternight,"  he  found  tongue  to  ex- 
plain, as  the  two  boys,  with  Saxon  in  their  wake, 
rode  out  from  Kingsford.  "  So  perhaps  'tis  no 
great  blame  I  just  shut  my  eyes  a  moment.  But, 
Hugh,  I'd  take  it  kindly  if  you  did  not  tell  Dick 
I  went  to  sleep  for  so  little.  And  by  no  means 
let  Captain  Turner  know." 

Hugh  promised  soberly,  then,  as  they  trotted 
along  the  highway,  relapsed  into  heavy  silence. 


368  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

But  Frank  still  chattered  on  gayly,  insisting  on  a 
rejoinder:  "How  does  it  seem  to  come  home 
thus  ?  Sure,  you're  a  dutiful  lad  to  ride  this  dis- 
tance to  see  your  grandfather." 

Hugh  blinked  at  Bayard's  erect  ears,  and  told 
himself  in  dull  fashion  that  while  he  was  at 
Everscombe  he  would  see  Lois  again  and  thank 
her,  but  he  did  not  hold  it  necessary  to  speak  it 
all  to  Frank. 

A  little  patrol  of  horse  guarded  the  park  gate,  but 
knowing  Hugh  they  suffered  him  pass  through 
with  his  companions.  For  all  the  roadway  was 
cut  with  horse  hoofs  they  ventured  a  brisk  trot, 
and  so  came  speedily  out  into  the  open,  and  fol- 
lowing the  track  across  the  lawn  drew  up  by  the 
west  wing.  The  rest  of  the  house  was  silent,  but 
here  were  stationed  two  sentinels  of  Turner's 
troop,  a  wagon  had  just  been  brought  lumbering 
to  the  door,  and  from  within  the  long  guardroom 
Strangwayes  himself  hailed  them :  "  Get  off  your 
horse,  and  come  in,  Master  Cornet.  I've  recovered 
my  cuirass  from  the  plunder  of  these  crop-eared 
thieves,  and  I'm  thinking  I've  lighted  on  your 
buff  coat  and  sword." 

Sliding  off  his  horse,  Hugh  strode  briskly  into 
the  big  room.  At  one  side  a  long  table  had  been 
hastily  set  forth,  at  which  a  squad  of  Turner's 
men  were  making  a  nondescript  meal,  but  the  rest 
of  the  hall  was  littered  with  arms  and  accoutre- 
ments that  the  troopers  were  still  fetching  in 
noisily;  they  must  have  stripped  the  manor  house 
of  every  warlike  furnishing.  "  Yes,  the  work  is 
near  done,  and  we  can  be  off,"  Strangwayes  said 
low  to  Hugh.  "  Sure,  I'm  not  the  man  will  be 


xxii  AFTER  THE  VICTORY  369 

sorry.  Did  you  know,  my  lad,  there's  a  harder 
thing  than  storming  a  town,  and  that's  to  keep 
your  troop  from  stealing  the  town  after  you've 
taken  it  ?  As  'tis  a  sort  of  family  matter  Captain 
Gwyeth  is  loath  to  have  this  house  plundered, 
so  we've  done  our  best.  But  it's  well  Leveson's 
thieves  have  been  used  in  clearing  the  stable;  our 
own  men  have  held  the  house,  and  they  are  the 
best  and  most  obedient  in  the  regiment.  I've 
knocked  down  one  or  two  of  them,  and  put  three 
under  arrest,  and  promised  a  few  floggings,  but 
barring  that  they've  been  good  as  lambs  and  not 
stole  from  the  house  more  than  each  man  can 
hide  in  his  pockets.  Trust  them  ?  I'd  trust  my 
troop  anywhere,  that  I  had  my  eyes  on  it,"  he 
concluded  lugubriously.  "  But  now  I'm  going  to 
risk  taking  one  eye  off  them  and  leave  Griffith 
to  see  the  spoils  loaded  in  the  wagons,  while  I 
tie  up  your  hurts  again." 

Accordingly,  Strangwayes  sent  men  running 
for  water  and  bandages,  and,  putting  Hugh  on  a 
bench  against  the  wall,  was  dressing  his  head  and 
arm,  when  Captain  Gwyeth  came  in.  Hugh 
caught  sight  of  him  as  he  paused  an  instant  in 
the  doorway,  and  at  the  changed  expression  of 
the  man's  face  a  sudden  fear  struck  him,  for  it 
came  home  to  him  that,  though  the  captain  for- 
gave the  son  who  had  defied  him,  he  might  never 
forgive  the  son's  friend  who  had  threatened  to 
bar  the  door  upon  him.  It  was  a  new  thought, 
and  it  checked  Hugh's  first  impulsive  movement 
to  rise  to  meet  his  father ;  instead  he  moved  a  bit 
nearer  Dick.  There  was  an  instant's  dangerous 
silence,  then  Master  Frank,  nodding  half-asleep 

2B 


370  HUGH  GWYETH  ca 

at  Hugh's  side,  perceived  Captain  Gwyeth  and 
ran  to  him.  "  Why,  this  is  a  lucky  meeting,"  he 
cried,  leading  the  captain  over  to  the  bench. 
"  And  did  I  not  tell  you,  sir,  when  once  you  were 
acquainted  with  Hugh,  he  was  a  right  friendly, 
generous  fellow  for  all  his  stubborn  face  ?  " 

That  made  Dick  turn  and  come  to  his  feet, 
stiff  and  respectful.  "  Maybe  'twill  please  you 
look  to  Hugh's  hurt  now,  sir,"  he  said,  with  a 
slight  bow. 

"  Nay,  you've  looked  to  his  hurts  before  this, 
Lieutenant,"  the  captain  said  slowly.  "  You've 
the  right  to  do  so  now."  He  hesitated,  then  held 
out  his  hand,  and  Strangwayes  took  it. 

Next  moment  Strangwayes  was  tying  the  band- 
age about  Hugh's  arm  again,  while  he  talked 
briskly  with  Captain  Gwyeth  of  the  ill  ride  they 
had  had  from  Tamworth,  and  the  worse  ride  they 
were  like  to  have  back,  to  which  the  captain  re- 
plied with  a  satisfied  account  of  the  good  spoil  of 
horses  and  arms  they  had  made  in  compensation 
for  those  lost  at  the  first  overthrow  of  his  troop. 
"  So  soon  as  the  carts  are  laden,  you  are  to  quit 
the  house,  so  Captain  Turner  bids,"  Captain 
Gwyeth  finished  in  an  everyday  tone.  "  We 
must  be  out  of  the  village  before  sunset." 

Then  as  Strangwayes,  ending  his  surgery, 
jumped  to  his  feet  to  aid  Griffith  in  superintend- 
ing the  loading,  the  captain  turned  to  Hugh:  "  I 
bade  you  stay  rest  at  the  church,  but  since  you've 
taken  your  way  and  come  hither  you  can  do  me 
service."  He  dropped  his  voice  a  little,  though 
they  were  screened  well  enough  under  the  racket 
of  the  men  who  were  carrying  forth  the  captured 


xxn  AFTER  THE  VICTORY  371 

arms :  "  Get  you  to  the  east  wing  of  the  house, 
where  the  family  have  withdrawn,  and,  if  you  can, 
procure  access  to  Master  Oldesworth.  He  denied 
it  unto  me.  Tell  him  from  me  that  it  is  for  the 
sake  of  his  daughter  and  his  daughter's  son  that 
I  have  saved  his  house  from  utter  spoil  to-day. 
And  teU  him  that  I  will  use  Tom  Oldesworth 
better  than  he  deserves,  and  exert  my  influence  to 
have  him  speedily  exchanged.  That's  all." 

Hugh  passed  out  through  the  confusion  to  the 
front  of  the  house,  where  the  carts  were  loading, 
and  with  a  rather  dubious  foreboding  crossed  the 
terrace  to  the  east  wing.  Within,  the  hall  was 
cool  and  dark  with  long  afternoon  shadows ;  the 
din  of  the  western  quarter  drifted  hither  only 
faintly,  so  his  mind  went  back  with  a  vaguely 
homesick  feeling  to  the  peaceful,  humdrum  days 
at  Everscombe  a  year  ago.  It  seemed  like  a  bit 
of  the  old  life  to  go  to  the  door  of  the  east  parlor 
and  knock  and  hear  his  grandfather's  voice  bid- 
ding him  enter. 

But  once  inside,  Hugh  knew  a  year  had  passed 
since  last  he  faced  Master  Oldesworth  there. 
Not  only  did  a  glance  at  his  own  buff  coat  and 
high  boots,  his  sword  and  bandaged  arm  recall 
the  change,  but  he  could  see  his  grandfather  bent 
a  little  in  his  chair,  and  his  head  looked  whiter 
even  than  it  had  looked  two  days  before.  The 
old  man  was  sitting  by  the  window,  but  at  Hugh's 
step  he  turned  toward  him  with  a  cold,  angry 
face  that  made  the  boy  hesitate  at  first;  then  tak- 
ing courage  he  repeated  his  father's  message 
respectfully.  Master  Oldesworth's  face  relaxed 
a  little  at  the  word  of  Captain  Oldesworth,  and 


372  HUGH  GWYETH  CH. 

at  that  Hugh  ventured  to  add  in  his  own  behalf: 
"  And,  aside  from  my  father's  message,  sir,  I 
wished  to  come  hither  and  thank  you  that  you 
used  me  so  kindly  the  other  day." 

"  I  would  use  you  still  better  if  your  stiff-necked 
childishness  did  not  prevent,"  the  old  man  an- 
swered sternly.  "  So  you  will  yet  refuse  what  I 
would  offer  and  follow  this  man  because  he  is 
your  father?" 

"  Nay,  'tis  not  for  that  now,  sir,"  Hugh  replied 
happily,  "  'tis  because  he  saved  my  life  yesterday, 
and  he  has  made  me  his  officer.  Tis  because  I 
know  him  to  be  a  valiant  and  a  kindly  gentleman, 
though  his  temper  is  hot.  And  I  must  go,  too, 
because  my  friends  all  fight  for  the  same  cause  as 
he." 

"So  you  will  play  your  mother's  part  over 
again,"  Master  Oldesworth  said  sharply,  and  gazed 
out  at  the  window  so  long  that  Hugh  made  a 
motion  to  go,  when  the  old  man  rose  and  bade 
him  come  to  him.  "  You  are  set  to  go  your  own 
way,  and  'tis  a  foolish  way,"  he  began,  putting  his 
hand  on  the  boy's  shoulder.  "'Twas  her  way,  too. 
Yet  spite  of  all  I  loved  her  best  of  all  my  daughters 
or  y<et  of  my  sons.  Well,  well,  Hugh,  I  would 
not  say  it  the  first  time  you  went,  but  now  if  God 
can  look  on  a  man  who  fights  in  so  unjust  a  cause 
I  pray  He  may  keep  you  uncorrupted  and  turn 
your  heart  aright  while  there  is  time.  Now  go 
your  way." 

He  turned  to  the  window,  and  Hugh  murmured 
that  he  thanked  him  from  his  heart  and  would 
strive  never  to  shame  him  by  his  conduct. 

Then  he  passed  out  into  the  hall  again,  and, 


xxn  AFTER  THE  VICTORY  373 

with  his  mind  on  what  had  just  been  said,  was 
stepping  slowly  to  the  door,  when  from  the  stair- 
way he  heard  his  name  called.  Before  he  faced 
about  he  knew  it  was  his  sharp-tongued  Aunt 
Delia,  but  the  sensitive  boyish  dread  of  her  was 
all  gone  now.  He  turned  back  briskly  to  learn 
her  bidding,  and  as  he  turned  he  perceived  Lois 
Campion  standing  by  her  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs. 
"  'Tis  well  you  have  come  back,  Hugh  Gwyeth," 
Mistress  Oldesworth  began  in  a  cutting  voice  that 
might  have  made  Hugh  wince,  only  he  told  him- 
self that  she  was  Peregrine's  mother,  and  Pere- 
grine was  a  coward  and  a  runaway;  she  had  need 
of  words  to  vent  her  bitter  sorrow.  "  There  is 
one  here  maybe  has  claim  on  you,  if  you  still 
hold  in  remembrance  this  gentlewoman,"  she 
went  on,  leading  Lois  forward.  "  She  has  re- 
membered you  so  well  that  she  has  forgotten  her 
duty  to  her  kindred  and  to  —  " 

"  Let  me  go,  aunt !  "  Lois  cried  in  a  smothered 
tone.  She  had  brushed  by  Hugh  and  run  out  at 
the  open  door  before  he  fully  comprehended,  and 
without  a  glance  at  Mistress  Oldesworth  he  ran 
after. 

Out  under  the  elms  of  the  east  terrace  he  over- 
took Lois,  and  catching  her  hand  made  her  stay. 
"  What  is  it  ?  What  does  it  mean  ?  "  he  urged. 

"  Nothing,"  she  answered,  with  her  head  erect 
and  her  cheeks  blazing.  "  Only,  I  can  never  go 
under  that  woman's  roof  again.  Some  things 
even  a  poor  weak-spirited  creature  like  a  girl  will 
not  endure." 

"  But  if  you  cannot  stay  at  Everscombe,"  Hugh 
repeated  blankly,  but  next  moment  he  was  half 


374  HUGH   GWYETH  CH. 

laughing.  "Faith,  Lois,  the  time  has  come  now; 
you  shall  run  away  with  me.  Come,  we'll  be  off 
at  once." 

The  most  of  the  troop  had  already  ridden  for 
Kingsford,  Hugh  perceived,  as  they  came  to  the 
front  of  the  house,  but  by  the  west  door  Dick 
and  Frank,  with  Saxon  and  a  trooper  or  two,  still 
stayed  for  him.  Hugh  led  Lois  up  to  his  two 
friends,  a  bit  slowly,  for  the  girl's  steps  faltered 
shyly.  "  Dick,"  he  began,  "this  is  Mistress  Cam- 
pion of  whom  I  have  told  you.  They  have  cast 
her  out  from  Everscombe  because  she  set  me  free 
from  them  yesterday,  so  'tis  in  my  mind  to  take  her 
unto  Tamworth." 

Dick's  expressive  eyebrows  went  up,  but  before 
Hugh  had  time  for  resentment,  or  even  compre- 
hension, he  had  swung  round  on  the  trooper  who 
waited  at  Black  Boy's  head :  "  Off  to  the  stable 
with  you  and  fetch  a  pillion.  Frank,  use  your 
impudence  well  and  bring  out  a  cloak  for  Mis- 
tress Campion  from  the  house.  'Tis  well  thought 
on,  Hugh,  for  surely  all  the  regiment  is  indebted 
to  the  gentlewoman  who  aided  you  to  bear  that 
message.  Say,  by  Mistress  Campion's  leave,  we 
convey  her  to  my  cousin,  Mistress  Cresswell,  in 
Worcestershire  ? " 

"  Did  I  not  tell  you,  Lois,  that  Dick  was  the 
best  good  fellow  ever  lived?"  Hugh  broke  out. 

"  Pshaw ! "  said  Strangwayes.  "  Get  to  your 
saddle,  you  one-armed  warrior.  You'll  have  all 
you  can  do  to  manage  Bayard,  so  I  shall  entreat 
Mistress  Campion  to  ride  behind  me." 

In  such  order  they  went  from  Everscombe  in 
the  late  afternoon,  and,  urging  the  horses  a  trifle, 


xxn  AFTER  THE  VICTORY  375 

for  Captain  Turner  and  Captain  Gwyeth  had  long 
since  ridden  forth,  came  into  Kingsford  as  the 
sun  was  setting.  Already  the  troops  were  falling 
into  marching  order  in  the  road,  and  Strangwayes, 
only  pausing  to  bid  Hugh  look  that  he  did  not  go 
tc  sleep  and  pitch  over  his  saddle-bow  ere  he 
reached  Tamworth,  trotted  ahead  to  take  his 
place  in  the  rear  of  Turner's  men.  At  a  word 
from  him  Frank  followed  at  his  side,  but  Lois, 
seated  behind  Dick,  kept  her  face  turned  back 
to  Hugh. 

He  watched  till  they  passed  in  the  rear  of  the 
troop  down  to  the  bridge  of  the  Arrow,  then  drew 
Bayard  back  to  the  little  band  that  represented 
Gwyeth 's  men ;  the  troopers  were  all  in  the  sad- 
dle ;  behind  them  Leveson's  squads  were  getting 
to  horse,  and  the  graveyard  was  deserted.  The 
slope  of  the  hill  and  the  church  were  red  in  the 
sunset  but  very  peaceful  now;  Hugh  looked  to 
the  church  tower  and  saw  no  flag  was  flying. 
Then  he  heard  a  voice  at  his  elbow :  "  The  colors, 
sir." 

He  looked  down  at  Ridydale,  stiff  and  sol- 
dierly, who  saluted  and  passed  him  up  the  red 
and  gold  cornet  of  the  troop. 

"  Can  you  manage  the  flag,  Hugh  ? "  spoke 
Captain  Gwyeth,  getting  leisurely  to  horse  be- 
side him.  "  Leave  it  to  the  corporal  if  your 
arm  —  " 

"Sure,  sir,  I  can  manage  it  very  well  indeed," 
Hugh  broke  in,  much  alarmed;  he  braced  the 
staff  against  his  stirrup  and,  resting  it  in  the 
crook  of  his  elbow,  gathered  the  reins  into  his 
sound  hand. 


376  HUGH  GWYETH  CH.XXII 

"  Nay,  none  shall  take  it  from  you,  Cornet 
Gwyeth,"  the  captain  laughed,  and  turned  to  the 
trumpeter  to  sound  the  order  to  march  forward. 

They  rode  slowly  down  the  slope  to  the  bridge. 
The  water  splashed  beneath  the  archway,  and  the 
horses'  hoofs  sounded  hollow  on  the  road ;  Hugh 
listened  happily,  while  his  thoughts  sped  back  to 
the  last  time  he  had  crossed  the  bridge,  a  friend- 
less little  runaway.  On  the  thought  he  turned  in 
his  saddle  and  gazed  back  at  the  church  that 
now  showed  black  against  the  sunset  sky.  Did 
the  mother  who  lay  buried  there,  he  wondered, 
know  that  at  last  he  had  found  Alan  Gwyeth  ? 
He  faced  slowly  to  the  front  again,  and  as  he 
faced  he  met  the  captain's  eyes ;  there  were  no 
words  between  them,  but  each  guessed  some- 
thing of  the  other's  thoughts.  Hugh  tightened 
his  hold  on  Bayard's  bridle  and  drew  close,  so  he 
rode  knee  to  knee  with  his  father. 


"ANOTHER  BEWITCHING  ROMANCE- 
—  The  Times,  New  York 


THE  PRIDE  OF  JENNICO 

BEING  A  MEMOIR  OF  CAPTAIN  BASIL  JENNICO 
BY 

AGNES  and  EQERTON  CASTLE 

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"  Picturesque  in  literary  style,  rich  in  local  color,  rising  at  times  almost  to  tragu 
intentness,  and  bristling  throughout  with  dramatic  interest."  —  The  Record,  Philadelphia. 

"  There  is  a  wealth  of  historic  detail  which  lends  an  interest  to  the  story  apart  from 
the  romantic  love  affair  between  Captain  Jennico  and  the  Princess  Marie  Ottilie  of  Lausitz. 
The  hero's  great-uncle  had  been  one  of  those  lucky  English  adventurers  whose  Catholic 
religion  and  Jacobite  leanings  had  debarred  him  from  promotion  at  home,  and  who  had 
found  advancement  in  the  service  of  Austria,  and  wealth  with  the  hand  of  a  Bohemian 
heiress.  Such  chances  were  not  uncommon  with  '  Soldiers  of  Fortune '  in  the  times  of 
Queen  Anne  and  the  early  Georges.  At  his  uncle's  death,  Captain  Basil  Jennico  became 
the  possessor  of  many  millions  (reckoned  by  the  florins  of  that  land),  besides  the  great 
property  of  Tollendahl  —  fertile  plains  as  well  as  wild  forests,  and  of  the  isolated  frowning 
castle  of  Tollendahl  with  its  fathom-thick  walls,  its  odd  pictures  of  half-savage  dead  and 
gone  Woschutzkis,  its  antique  clumsy  furniture,  tapestries,  trophies  of  chase  and  war. 
He  became  master,  moreover,  of  endless  tribes  of  dependents,  heiducks  and  foresters; 
females  of  all  ages  whose  bare  feet  in  summer  pattered  oddly  on  the  floors  like  the  tread 
of  animals,  whose  high  boots  in  winter  clattered  perpetually  on  the  stone  flags  of  stairs 
and  corridors;  serf  peasants,  factors,  overseers,  the  strangest  mixture  of  races  that  can 
be  imagined:  Slovacks,  Bohemians,  Poles,  to  labor  on  the  glebe;  Saxons  or  Austrians  to 
rule  over  them  and  cipher  out  rosters  and  returns;  Magyars  who  condescended  to  manage 
his  horse-flesh  and  watch  over  his  safety  if  nothing  else;  the  travelling  bands  of  gypsies, 
ever  changing,  but  never  failing  with  the  dance,  the  song  and  the  music,  which  was  as 
indispensable  as  salt  to  the  life  of  that  motley  population. 

"  The  story  is  largely  historical,  both  German  and  English  elements  entering  into  It. 
The  scene  changes  from  the  old  castle  of  Tollendahl  to  an  English  country  house  and 
London  club,  always  maintaining  its  old  world  flavor." 

"  The  tale  is  gracefully  told,  and  owing  partly  to  this  fact  and  to  the  novelty  of  th« 
setting  given  to  Basil  Jennico's  amazing  experience,  it  gains  for  itself  a  place  apart.  .  .  . 
It  is  an  artistic  production  and  it  is  original."—  Tki  York  Tribune. 

"  One  of  the  newest  and  best  novels  of  the  decade."—  The  Budget  (Boston). 

"  No  such  piece  of  inimitable  comedy,  in  a  literary  way,  has  appeared  for 
Tht  Inter-Ocean  (Chicago). 


THE  MACMILLAN   COMPANY 

66  FIFTH  AVENUE,   NEW  YORK 
Chicago  Boston  San  Francisco 


CROWNED  BY  THE  LONDON  ACADEMY 
as  one  of  the  three  most  important  books  published  during  the  year  1898 


THE  FOREST  LOVERS 

By  MAURICE  HEWLETT 

Author  of  "  Earth  Works  out  of  Tuscany"  "  Pott  and  the  Young 
Shepherd"  etc. 

Cloth.     lamo.     $1.50 


JAMES   LANE   ALLEN   says: 

"  This  work,  for  any  one  of  several  solid  reasons,  must  be  regarded  as 
of  very  unusual  interest.  In  the  matter  of  style  alone,  it  is  an  achievement, 
an  extraordinary  achievement  .  .  .;  in  the  matter  of  interpreting  nature 
there  are  passages  in  this  book  that  I  have  never  seen  surpassed  in  prose 
fiction." 

HAMILTON  W.   MABIE  says: 

"  The  plot  is  boldly  conceived  and  strongly  sustained ;  the  characters 
are  vigorously  drawn  and  are  thrown  into  striking  contrast.  ...  It  leads 
the  reader  far  from  the  dusty  highway;  it  is  touched  with  the  penetrating 
power  of  the  imagination;  it  has  human  interest  and  idyllic  loveliness."  — 
Book  Reviews. 

The  New  York  Tribune  says: 

"  A  series  of  adventures  as  original  as  they  are  romantic.  ...  '  The 
Forest  Lovers  '  is  a  piece  of  ancient  arras;  a  thing  mysteriously  beautiful, 
a  book  that  is  real  and  at  the  same  time  radiant  with  poetry  and  art.  '  The 
Forest  Lovers '  will  be  read  with  admiration  and  preserved  with  something 
more  than  respect." 

The  Outlook  calls  it : 

"  A  story  compounded  of  many  kinds  of  beauty.  It  has,  to  begin  with, 
enchanting  beauty  of  background;  or  rather,  it  moves  through  a  beauti- 
ful world,  the  play  of  whose  light  upon  it  is  subtle,  beguiling,  and  magical." 


THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

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